New Bandag Dealer GBB Manufacturing Ltd begins operating in Co. Durham

Zaventem, July 2005 -- The impressive list of GB Bandag (GBB) end-users in County
Durham will be delighted to learn that the company now also manufactures the world-famous retreads at a brand-new production facility that has just been inaugurated in
Shildon. As Managing Director Malcolm McGuire puts it, GBB now manufactures what
customers need, when they need it. This fits in particularly well with the company's
mission statement: to deliver the best products and services, enabling customers to
concentrate on their core business.

Malcolm McGuire already had a long career in the tyre business under his belt (with
Firestone and a number of tyre distributors)when he founded GB Bandag (GBB)in 1997 as a Bandag Service Partner.Fascinated by the quality and reliability of the Bandag tyre products he was sourcing from Bandag manufacturing dealers,Mr McGuire also surrounded himself with experienced tyre experts,such as his Sales Director,Maurice Raine.

GBB's top retreads soon became the benchmark in the north-east of England,Cumbria and the Borders. Recently,Malcolm McGuire became a full-fledged Bandag manufacturing dealer to boost customer service still further.

At the beginning of 2005,GBB moved its operations from Langley Moor to Shildon (both in Co.Durham),where it opened a state-of-the-art 17,000 sq.ft.Bandag production facility in a modern,highly functional building.

The fact that GBB is now able to produce top-quality Bandag retreads has greatly enhanced the flexibility and responsiveness of its product deliveries and service."We are now in complete control of the whole process,"says Sales Director,Maurice Raine."A number of customers have told us that they are delighted with the improved service we are able to provide."

Total commitment to customer satisfaction Malcolm McGuire does not believe in doing things by halves.He has provided the GBB ’s manufacturing personnel with the very best Bandag training,both at the shop in Shildon and at the Bandag European Training Centre near Brussels.He has also made sure they report to an experienced shop manager.

"Our strength comes from our thorough knowledge of the market in the North-East,as well as our excellent relationship with end-users,the good work of our Service Providers and the quality of the Bandag tyre products,"says Mr McGuire."Our new in-house manufacturing is carried out by highly skilled staff,backed up by Bandag ’s exclusive retreading equipment – including an ultrasound NDI that detects even the tiniest flaw in a casing – and an excellent level of management."

Services that deliver added value GBB relies on a network of professional Service Providers to supply its Bandag retreads and a full range of new tyres.The company also offers customers the Bandag CIMS programme, which audits fleets and advises on how to improve tyre use for better performance and lower costs.In addition,the Bandag web-based CAMWEB program helps fleets to track and control their valuable casing assets.

Press Letter - GB
Press
BANDAG NV
Leuvensesteenweg 526
1930 Zaventem (Brussels)
Belgium
Tel : 32-(0)2-719.05.11
Fax : 32-(0)2-725.15.59
www.bandag.com