Musical chairs: suppliers spin as retreaders change dance partners.(Focus On: Industry)

Take, take, take. Michelin North America Inc., Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., and now, Marangoni Tread N. A. Inc. are taking retreaders away from other suppliers, primarily Bandag Inc.

Michelin, through its Michelin Retread Technologies Inc. (MRTI) subsidiary, has raced from zero to 29 retread shops in the United States in the last 12 months. All were existing locations (13 of the shops are now company-owned facilities run under the Tire Centers Inc. banner).

Bauer Built Inc. is MRTI's latest coup. Based in Durand, Wis., Bauer Built is converting six of its Bandag shops into five Michelin precure plants, and one into a hybrid precure and mold cure facility. …