Highly trained specialists perform a thorough visual inspection of the tyre casing before any other process steps are allowed to be made. The Bandag retreading process requires a sound starting point, so this initial inspection already rejects casings which are damaged too much. This is the first step in ensuring that a Bandag is a Bandag, anywhere and always.
THE BANDAG RETREADING PROCESS
STEP 1: INITIAL VISUAL INSPECTION
STEP 2: NON-DESTRUCTIVE MACHINE INSPECTION
At this stage, the highest technology comes into play. High-voltage nail hole detectors are used to find pin-holes which are not visible to the human eye. On top of that, Laser Shearing Interferometry, or “shearography”, allows our specialists to look deep inside the casing, detecting and locating internal damages. In this way your Bandag specialist confirms that your casing is fit to become a Bandag retread.
STEP 3: BUFFING
A buffing machine then removes excess remaining rubber from the casing and restores it to its ideal dimensions, preparing it to receive its new tread. Thanks to the Bandag technology, the process and the accuracy, our specialists can make sure that individual casings will be turned into identical Bandag retreads.
STEP 4: SKIVING
During the skiving process, any superficial damages to the casing are carefully cleaned out. If required, section repairs will also be made at this stage. This is also the moment when the Bandag operator can “save” your casing asset from the scrap pile. This process step serves a double purpose. It ensures that the casing is totally clean and ready to be retreaded, but it also guarantees that your retread will stay in good shape until the end of its new life… ready for possibly yet another retreading process!
STEP 5: BUILDING
At this stage, the Bandag pre-cured tread, with its purposely developed pattern and compound, is applied to the prepared casing. After careful measurement and tread-preparation, the building process finally transforms the previously worn out tyres into brand new Bandag retreads. A layer of uncured rubber, which is applied between the casing and the new tread, will ensure a permanent bond between the two after the curing process. Here again, a specialised operator uses high-tech Bandag equipment to ensure perfect uniformity and top quality finishing.
STEP 6: CURING
The curing - or “vulcanizing” - process permanently bonds the new Bandag tread to the worn out casing. After the tyre is wrapped in an air-tight envelope, pressure and temperature are applied to transform the layer of uncured rubber into a final and irreversible elastic state. This ensures that the casing and tread will never separate again… until the next Bandag retreading process, of course!
STEP 7: FINAL INSPECTION
After finishing and final inspection, be it visual or machine inspection, the Bandag operator approves the retreaded tyre for sale. He makes sure that the final product is a real Bandag and that it looks like a Bandag!
