Bandag dealer Guminta opens new sales outlet in Klaipeda, on the Baltic coast

The main event at the open house event was the signing of Guminta’s franchise agreement with Bandag for the next 5 years. Guests of honour at the signing were Mike Tirona, Vice President and General Manager, Bandag EMEA and the main shareholder of Guminta, Mr Valdemaras Zakarauskas.

Founded back in 1252, Klaipeda is the third largest city in Lithuania. Ravaged in World War II, when the Germans used it as a submarine base, the city is currently enjoying a major business revitalisation. As a key port city in the European Union, Klaipeda is the gateway to the world of international trade for Lithuania.
“As our headquarters are in Vilnius, on the other side of the country, the sea port of Klaipeda was probably
the best place for Guminta to increase its market share in the western part of Lithuania,” said General Manager, Mindaugas Grigalavicius. “Many fleets operate in the area and they have come to appreciate Bandag products and services ever since Guminta became a Bandag Dealership ten years ago.”

Improved distribution
“Our fully equipped Bandag retreading shop remains in Vilnius,” explained Technical Manager Juozas
Kazlauskas. “But we have been able to streamline the distribution of our tyre products and services significantly
since we opened the outlet in Klaipeda.”

This is good news for the many fleets that have relied on Guminta’s services for years. Large fleets such as
Girteka, Hoptransa, Irsana, Transuotila and TVG make extensive use of Guminta’s ability to retread tyre casings
a number of times, with a twelve-month guarantee at the start of each tyre life.

Quality as a strategy
Guminta is a leader in the Lithuanian retreading industry. Both local and national fleets appreciate the
company’s quality certificates, which reflect Guminta’s constant search for excellence and its understanding of the environment. Company staff regularly visit the Bandag International Training Centre, in Brussels, Belgium to update their theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

All of the Bandag retreads produced by Guminta comply with ECE 109 requirements. The German Kraftfahrt-
Bundesamt inspection body in Germany also monitors the production process, making Guminta the only
Lithuanian company to hold this demanding certification.

To enable its fleet customers to obtain the best return on their tyre investment, Guminta combines Bandag tyre
retreading with the sales of premium new tyres from Continental, Barum, Michelin and Bridgestone, whose
casings can last for a number of service lives as utterly reliable Bandag retreads.