Once again Bandvulc shows the retread industry how to change the face of retreading with innovation, quality and efficiency through in-house design and engineering.

Building on its reengineering of tyre repairs, known as Camelot, Bandvulc has now changed the way it handles over 18,000 truck tyre casings per month and has named this new process Avalon, another reference to King Arthur.

As with the Avalon of King Arthur, where Excalibur was forged, the Avalon of Bandvulc remains somewhat of a mystery. Using in-house engineers and expertise along with expansion of its production bar code system called Merlin, little is known of Avalon.

Designed, manufactured and installed using internal expertise the investment of £300,000 has gone a lot further than it could have if outside consultants and engineers were used, an important benefit in today's economic climate. Following numerous strategy meetings the final design meets all the internal requirements by removing all non-value added activities. Another important benefit is improved customer care enabling Bandvulc to provide the best inspection and quickest reporting on truck tyre casings in the industry.

The installation of a new bead to bead shearography machine ensures product quality starts right at the beginning of the process and enables reduced in-process scrap plus the ability to report further on casing related faults.

Patrick O'Connell says; “It is a great credit to all involved that such major advances in manufacturing can be made by using those people within your own organisation. We look forward to showing our customers the step change we have made in the retreading world.  I am now convinced that Bandvulc leads the way in retreading technology.”

When asked about what was next and what it is going to be called Patrick O'Connell replied; “We do not have a name yet but we do have a vision for our end of line inspection to be re-engineered to push for the ultimate in lean manufacturing within any retread plant”.