BRUSSELS (June 4, 2004) — Bridgestone Europe N.V./S.A. has joined forces with Italy's Marangoni Tread S.p.A. in a retread systems joint venture that will service all of Bridgestone's tire retreading activities in Europe.
The new firm, called Bridgestone Retread Systems N.V./S.A., will be the sole supplier and service provider to Bridgestone´s Federated Retreader network, Bridgestone said. The firm, which will have its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, will include Marangoni Tread's sister company Ellerbrock RT GmbH of Henstedt/Ulzburg, Germany, it added.
The alliance with Ferentino, Italy-based Marangoni Tread will enable Bridgestone to benefit from its Italian partner's expertise and to distribute selected Marangoni products to its retreader network.
The venture expands “the availability of Bridgestone's total tire care packages, facilitating a Europe-wide service through its Truck Point network,” the company said. Truck Point comprises 1,650 service points in 16 countries, Bridgestone said.
To support the new venture, Bridgestone said it is extending its range of precured treads, which are produced by the Federated Retreaders under the “Qualitread” brand.
Bridgestone is majority owner of the venture. Financial terms were not disclosed.