The final certification was granted to its commercial vehicle tyre-retreading subsidiary, Bulldog Remoulds Ltd of the UK, in August 2011. All 13 Bridgestone Group plants in Europe employing more than 50 people are now ISO 14001 certified, 12 years after the project started in 1999.

“Bridgestone congratulates the Bulldog team for its commitment and results. The completion of our ISO14001 environmental certification program is not only a remarkable achievement, but a starting point to continue the steady improvement of Bridgestone Europe environmental performances” says Gianluca Tosatti, European Regulations & Environmental Affairs Manager, Bridgestone Technical Center Europe.

The ISO 14001 standard sets out stringent requirements for developing an effective environmental management system in support of an organisation’s environmental policies. It challenges an organisation both to conform to all current environmental regulations and to achieve continuous improvement in its environmental practices, such as reducing the use of natural resources and minimising waste.

Introducing an environmental management system at all levels of Bridgestone production activity across Europe, from the largest tyre factories to small specialised units, has therefore required significant effort in terms of harmonising procedures, introducing environmental targets and training personnel. Certification of all plants (in Europe) has been carried out by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance.

“The energy efficiency of Bridgestone Europe factories is already among the best in the tyre sector, and we currently use about half of the energy used for producing one tyre in 1990. However we should never be satisfied with our achievements; we always strive towards an even higher level of environmental performance” says Mr. Tosatti.

Automation Systems Manager at Bridgestone Europe, Neil Purves, says: “Pressure maintenance is critical to keeping our roads safe. Often it is running at low pressure for a prolonged period of time that causes tyres to finally fail.”

As truck tyre failure can cause the tyre to break up, forcing following traffic to take sudden action to avoid debris in the road, early warning and remedial action through TPMS can help prevent dangerous situations. In addition to the safety aspect, a fleet with correct tyre pressures will run with longer tyre life, optimal fuel economy and reduced CO2 output.

The TPMS system that Bridgestone is introducing across Europe features a patented valve with a unique Radio Frequency (RF) unit. Specific valves are available for commercial vehicles and passenger cars. These RF units emit the tyre pressure, temperature and unique identification number every 4 seconds, giving the unit a lifespan of a minimum of 3 years.

The system is rolling out as a tool within Bridgestone’s Total Fleet Management package which provides full tyre maintenance services within a fleet. Using either detector gates mounted at the fleet premises or handheld data-collection units, vehicle maintenance managers will now be able to receive targeted pressure alerts so they can quickly react before a low pressure turns into a tyre failure.

“Bridgestone is committed to improving road safety in all types of vehicles, our new TPMS system is evidence of this,” says Colm Conyngham, Marketing and Public Relations Manager, Bridgestone Ireland “We hope to see the new device tested on an Irish fleet before the end of this year.”

Automation Systems Manager at Bridgestone Europe, Neil Purves, says: “Pressure maintenance is critical to keeping our roads safe. Often it is running at low pressure for a prolonged period of time that causes tyres to finally fail.”

As truck tyre failure can cause the tyre to break up, forcing following traffic to take sudden action to avoid debris in the road, early warning and remedial action through TPMS can help prevent dangerous situations. In addition to the safety aspect, a fleet with correct tyre pressures will run with longer tyre life, optimal fuel economy and reduced CO2 output.

Patented valve system

The TPMS system that Bridgestone is introducing across Europe features a patented valve with a unique Radio Frequency (RF) unit. Specific valves are available for commercial vehicles and passenger cars. These RF units emit the tyre pressure, temperature and unique identification number every 4 seconds, giving the unit a lifespan of a minimum of three years.

The system is rolling out as a tool within Bridgestone’s Total Fleet Management package which provides full tyre maintenance services within a fleet. Using either detector gates mounted at the fleet premises or handheld data-collection units, vehicle maintenance managers will now be able to receive targeted pressure alerts so they can quickly react before a low pressure turns into a tyre failure.

The eSafety Challenge is an annual event that promotes and highlights the life-saving potential of advanced vehicle safety technologies. It is co-funded by the FIA Foundation, European Commission and eSafetyAware.

The patented system features a valve with a built-in radio frequency unit that simply screws onto the valve stem. Its unique ultra low power usage allows for a much smaller construction than that of conventional TPMS sensors. A passenger car version integrated to a snap-in valve will also be demonstrated.

By emitting a tyre’s pressure, temperature and unique identification number every 4 seconds, this TPMS provides vehicle maintenance managers with a comprehensive pressure status of their fleet. The data can be read by vehicle inspectors with mobile devices, or with an innovative gate solution allowing immediate corrective action to be taken.

“In addition to increasing vehicle safety, use of the system helps avoid the additional fuel consumption and tyre wear caused by even a small loss of tyre pressure” says Neil Purves, Bridgestone Europe.

The Bridgestone TPMS is available as from second half of 2011 for commercial vehicles operating under a Bridgestone Total Fleet Management contract.

The eSafety Challenge promotes and highlights the life-saving potential of advanced vehicle safety technologies. The event, which includes demonstrations by celebrity drivers, conferences, exhibitions and expert panels, is co-funded by the FIA Foundation, European Commission and eSafetyAware.

The 3-year agreement effective from 1st April 2011 is based on a cost-per-kilometre package for around 2,000 Arla milk tankers and dairy distribution trucks in the three countries.

Bridgestone delivers the service through its Total Fleet Management system, which helps fleet operators raise vehicle productivity by optimising tyre performance over the whole tyre lifecycle.

“Bridgestone tyres and services have helped Arla keep a handle on transport costs since we started working together in Denmark and Sweden in 2006” says Mr. Torben Hansen, Category Manager Logistics & Transport Equipment, Arla Foods. “These efficiencies are a major reason why we have renewed our contract with Bridgestone and extended it to the UK.”

Supported by real-time monitoring and analysis of fleet performance in each market, Bridgestone supplies Arla with the most cost efficient mix of new and retread tyres. These products, services and systems are delivered by Bridgestone’s Truck Point network – Europe’s largest professional independent service network – combined with the specialist Bandag retread network.

“Bridgestone is delighted to receive the confidence of Arla Foods and extend this agreement to the large UK market” says Akihito Ishii, Director Truck and Bus and Retread, Bridgestone Europe. “In terms of service delivery, we have highly effective communication between HQ and ground level which ensures that any issues get solved on the spot.”

Arla Foods is a global dairy company selling brands in more than 100 countries. The company has a cooperative structure and is owned by more than 7,000 dairy farmers, creating in the process a large dairy tanker fleet in core markets.

Pictured are (left) Mr Brian Faherty, Transport Manager for Bridgestone Ireland and (right) Mr Robert Dickinson, Managing Director of Irish Global Logistics.

Brian Faherty, Transport Manager of Bridgestone Ireland said: “Bridgestone Ireland was keen to source a transport provider that offered the most operationally and cost effective method of distribution within Ireland whilst keeping the service levels at the highest possible standard. Irish Global have managed to provide us with very high delivery success, whilst dramatically reducing mileage covered and the numbers of trucks on the road by sharing the service with other automotive suppliers. Combined with our own vehicle fleet this allows Bridgestone to provide the best tyre delivery service available in Ireland.”

Robert Dickinson, Managing Director of Irish Global Logistics in Dublin stated: “In co-operation with Bridgestone Ireland, our proposal was to provide a first class service to the customer and maintain the high levels of service expected by Bridgestone Ireland’s customers. To that end we have developed a unique national supply chain based on ‘shared user and staged trunking’. This spreads the overall cost of running trucks across several customers, thereby reducing the cost for each customer but also increasing efficiency by reducing running mileage and avoiding long and expensive journeys.”

Irish Global now handles the distribution for Bridgestone to all 32 counties of Ireland from their main hubs in Dublin and Belfast as well as via IGL’s 12 satellite depots across the country. In addition, Irish Global also provides Bridgestone Ireland with European delivery services from Dublin and now operates vehicles on contract distribution for Bridgestone Ireland.

Faherty continues: “Irish Global offers a very high level of customer care to us, which reflects the levels of attention we afford to our own customers. Information is available immediately from the IGL online systems and any enquiries are dealt with immediately by the Contract Manager in Swords. We have found that Irish Global have been very flexible in dealing with seasonal peaks and coped admirably with the pressures of the heavy snow in December.”

From April 2011, the Qualitread M729 EVO will also join the Bridgestone retread line-up.

Bridgestone’s M729 regional drive tyre with its deep, multi-block pattern is renowned for its high mileage and resistance to irregular wear. The wide-base R168 regional trailer pattern provides excellent mileage performance for all on-road applications.

These additions to the Bridgestone retread line-up are part of Bridgestone’s new global strategy to progressively rebrand all Qualitread patterns under the Bridgestone retread or randag names.

Under the new strategy, the premium Bridgestone retread range will provide the latest high-performance Bridgestone patterns and compounds to the pan-European long haul and regional transport sector – with the focus on cost-per-kilometre and mileage contracts.

The Bandag brand will continue to offer solutions on three levels.

At the top end is the Bandag Premium Application-Specific range, with a complete line-up of Bandag own patterns covering all applications and axle positions, priced just below Bridgestone Retread products.

Priced slightly lower is the Bandag Standard line-up, which will be strengthened with the addition of several former Bridgestone Qualitread patterns.

On a third level is the popular Bandag Value Line range, for price sensitive operators.

The combined Bridgestone Retread and Bandag line-ups are produced by the network of Bandag’s 140+ European dealerships.

The M749 Ecopia drive tyre delivers high-level traction and wet handling, while also reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions. By making the M749 Ecopia available as a retread, Bridgestone can now offer long-haul operators the double benefit of cost savings over the full tyre life and a reduction in the ecological tyre print of the fleet.

Retreads not only use less energy and resources in the manufacturing phase, they also represent a more efficient use of materials and result in fewer tyres for recycling or disposal.

The tread is responsible for around 40% of a tyre’s rolling resistance, with the other 60% generated by the various components of the tyre casing. By retreading the low rolling resistance casing of the M749 Ecopia, fleets will be able to maximize the full fuel-saving potential of the retread.

Bridgestone introduced Ecopia truck tyres in Europe in 2010, providing fleet managers with new solutions for environmental responsibility and fuel efficiency. Thanks to their advanced compound technology, Ecopia truck tyres produce a 12% improvement in rolling resistance compared to previous Bridgestone profiles, with a corresponding reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

Importantly for operators, this lower rolling resistance has been achieved without compromising tyre performance in terms of mileage, wet grip, even wear and durability.

Bridgestone plans to expand the Ecopia retread line-up with the addition of the R109 trailer pattern later this year.

highway drive pattern and is available throughout the Bandag dealer network in Europe.

The M749 Ecopia drive tyre delivers high-level traction and wet handling, while also reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions. By making the M749 Ecopia available as a retread, Bridgestone can now offer long-haul operators the double benefit of cost savings over the full tyre life and a reduction in the ecological tyre print of the fleet.

Retreads not only use less energy and resources in the manufacturing phase, they also represent a more efficient use of materials and result in fewer tyres for recycling or disposal.

The tread is responsible for around 40% of a tyre’s rolling resistance, with the other 60% generated by the various components of the tyre casing. By retreading the low rolling resistance casing of the M749 Ecopia, fleets will be able to maximize the full fuel-saving potential of the retread.

Bridgestone introduced Ecopia truck tyres in Europe in 2010, providing fleet managers with new solutions for environmental responsibility and fuel efficiency. Thanks to their advanced compound technology, Ecopia truck tyres produce a 12% improvement in rolling resistance compared to previous Bridgestone profiles, with a corresponding reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

Importantly for operators, this lower rolling resistance has been achieved without compromising tyre performance in terms of mileage, wet grip, even wear and durability.

Bridgestone plans to expand the Ecopia retread line-up with the addition of the R109 trailer pattern later this year.

Featuring renowned UK motorsport expert and TV commentator, Tony Jardine, the site contains a series of short video clips demonstrating the three main pillars of Tyre Safety: tyre pressure, tread depth and damage/irregular wear.

The website is the latest component of Bridgestone’s ongoing Tyre Safety campaign, which also includes over 50,000 free Tyre Safety checks conducted throughout Europe every year.

Most consumers are unaware of just how important tyre maintenance is to road safety.

Results of over 50, 000 free tyre safety checks conducted by Bridgestone last year reveal that 8 in 10 cars drive on under-inflated tyres; 1 in 6 on tyres worn beyond the legal limit and 1 in 11 on both severely worn and severely under inflated tyres. Bridgestone’s new Tyre Safety website makes the potentially life-threatening consequences of driving on worn, damaged or under inflated tyres plain for all to see.

Worn or under inflated tyres can seriously compromise handling and add metres to a vehicle’s stopping distance in the wet. Under inflated tyres also consume more fuel and reduce the lifespan of the tyre, which is not only costly for consumers but also the environment.

Introduced by motorsport pundit, Tony Jardine, Bridgestone’s Tyre Safety videos show visitors what can happen when tyres are not properly maintained but also just how easy it is to keep tyres in proper working order.

Visitors to Bridgestone’s Tyre Safety website can also order a free tyre gauge, download the Tyre Safety Matters brochure, decipher the information written on the sidewall of their tyres and discover how Bridgestone is working to reduce road fatalities in Europe in line with the European Road Safety Charter.

For more information, visit the site at www.TyreSafety.eu

La Rinnova Del Pneumatico – Arké s.r.l, of Podenzano, Italy, and Juva SIA of Riga, Latvia, have both signed Bandag franchise contracts, bringing the total number of Bandag dealers in Europe to more than 140.

La Rinnova Del Pneumatico has been operating for 45 years in the Piacenza area, a busy traffic corridor 80 km south of Milan, and is a major regional provider of truck fleet tyre services. As an experienced retreader, the company is convinced that the comprehensive Bandag package of products, equipment technical services and sales support will better equip the business for profitable growth.

Juva SIA is a major player in the Latvian truck and automobile tyre market, operating three service outlets and supplying more than 50 independent tyre dealers throughout the country.

The dealer already works closely with Bridgestone and is a top-level member of the Truck Point network. By joining up with Bandag, Juva can now offer its truck customers total fleet solutions with a combined Bridgestone-Bandag range of new tyres, retreads and services.

“Bandag retread business is expanding in Europe” says Akihito Ishii, Director, TBR & Retread Bridgestone Europe. “These two new members of the Bandag family will increase our penetration in Italy and Latvia – and strengthen their own businesses as well.”

The site carries a stronger message for end users, with more qualitative retread and product information, including the latest document downloads.

The structure is built around Bandag’s Smart Choice marketing concept, which explains why Bandag retreads are the most reliable, economical, natural and dependable retread choice on the tyre market.

Visitors to the site can learn quickly and easily about the retreading process, the comprehensive Bandag and Bridgestone retread product range, and its proven benefits for the environment. They can also read more about some important basic information on tyre management and its fleet solutions supported by franchised Bandag dealers.

Central in the layout is the new Product Selector module, leading customers directly to the most suitable product for their application and needs in their specific market. Adjacent to this is the Bandag Dealer Locator showing the nearest available Bandag dealers on a Google map. A homepage link takes Bandag dealers directly to their dedicated extranet site, Bandag Plaza, which provides them with key day-to-day product, technical and commercial information.

“Bridgestone will manage site content and maintenance in-house, thanks to the use of Smartsite technology” says Amélie Vangermeersch, Business Marketing Specialist, Bridgestone Europe, and project manager of the new site. “This will enable us to provide fleets, dealers, prospects and other visitors with dynamic, up-to-date information at all times.”

This is the first time that Bridgestone has received the award, which is provided only to a select group of suppliers that meet the world-class quality performance demanded by DAF’s parent company, PACCAR Inc.

“Bridgestone Europe is honoured to receive this prestigious Quality Achievement Award from DAF, said Gerry Duffy, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Bridgestone

Europe.

“We are proud to meet the high product and service standards demanded by PACCAR and look forward to continuing this partnership in the future.”

Bridgestone Europe supplies the full range of tyres to DAF as original equipment for its range of medium and heavy trucks, enabling fleet operators to improve environmental performance and meet stricter European emission levels without compromising safety, cost efficiency or vehicle chassis height.

The move anticipates an increased front-axle load for trucks due to the addition of new ‘clean’ technologies, notably SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) and EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation), in compliance with Euro V and VI emission regulations.

Bridgestone has designed the R249 EVO and R297 EVO steer tyres to support this higher load capacity – but without sacrificing the safety, durability and cost efficiency of Bridgestone premium truck tyres. Importantly for operators, these EVO tyres enable trucks to improve their environmental performance without compromising vehicle chassis height.

The R249 EVO highway tyre and R297 EVO regional tyre are designed to carry a load of 8 tons per axle in the 315/70R 22.5 size and 7.5 tons in size 315/60R 22.5. The Bridgestone R297 EVO is currently the only regional tyre able to carry 8 tons per axle.

Bridgestone has achieved this breakthrough by applying its Waved Belt and Turn-in-Ply Bead technologies, which increase durability and support higher load capacities.

Other features of the R249 EVO and R297 EVO remain identical to the standard load index range, providing superior handling, steering and wet safety combined with an unbeatable total cost per kilometre.

Both these EVO steer tyres are available as original equipment and replacements from January 2010. Renault and Volvo trucks have already fitted the R249 EVO and R297 EVO and Scania is currently completing homologation.

“Bridgestone was able to meet the high standards set by Renault, Volvo and Scania and has already been selected to supply these new EVO tyres as original equipment” said Hirotaka MIGITA, Director Commercial Products, Bridgestone Europe.