U.S. expertise and research now available to N.Z.

Press, 12 October 1979, Page 13

U.S. expertise and research now available to N.Z.

A recently-signed agreement with Bahdag Inc., of America, gives Bandag in New Zealand access to new dimensions of technology in its field—the making of tread for recapping truck tyres. Bandag Industries New Zealand, Ltd, whose headquarters are based in the Auckland industrial suburb of East Tamaki, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Freightways Holdings, one of New Zealand’s leading transport and freightforwarding groups. In New Zealand, Bandag specialises in making and supplying rubber tread.

Recently, the newlyappointed president and chief executive of Bandag in America. Mr P. Deb-

roux, visited Auckland to sign an agreement under which the New Zealand company re-negotiated its manufacturing licence arrangements in a way which gives its manufacturing activities throughout New Zealand, including Christchurch, much greater scope. With Mr Debroux when he visited New Zealand in the course of a world tour, were the president of his company’s rubber and equipment group, Mr C. E. Edwards, and the vicepresident for corporate development of the company. Mr R. E. Sanner.

Signing the agreement for the New Zealand com-

pany was the managing director of the Freight-

ways group, Mr R. H. Pettigrew. After the formal signing at Auckland, he issued a statement saying that the new arrangement had “farreaching implications to the New Zealand commercial vehicle user.” Mr Pettigrew said this was because the agreement guaranteed Bandag in New Zealand a continuing source of technical data and expertise. “Because of the rapid changes taking place within the petro-chemical industry, and, in turn, the tyre retreading industry. Bandag in New Zealand welcomes this opportunity to gain direct access to further developments in the most up-to-date tech-

nology tn pre-cured, coldprocess retreading.” The American company has a SUSI.S million annual research and development budget geared solely to improving and making innovations to Ban dag materials and technology. Bandag Industries, Ltd, spends millions of dollars on research and development, which benefits customers all over the world. The Research and Development Centre in Muscatine, lowa, employs leading scientists, engineers and technicians, who use the most sophisticated testing equipment available.

Bandag also tests retreads all over the world in all types of conditions.