Forterra, a leading UK manufacturer of building materials, has selected Michelin as its sole tyre supplier following a competitive tender process. The partnership promises to optimise the performance of Forterra’s fleet while focusing on reducing fuel costs, improving sustainability, and maximising vehicle uptime.
Michelin will supply tyres from its X Multi and X Works ranges, which will be fitted to Forterra’s predominately Volvo truck fleet. These tyres are known for their durability, fuel efficiency, and suitability for both on-road and off-road conditions—ideal for Forterra's mixed operations that include deliveries to builders’ merchants and driving on construction sites.
John Anderson, National Logistics Director at Forterra, highlighted that Michelin’s cutting-edge data analysis, combined with their high-quality products, played a pivotal role in securing the contract:
"We had full confidence in the quality of the product, which is excellent. However, the thing that took Michelin’s offer to the next level was their ability to analyse our fleet’s performance to ensure it’s running as efficiently as possible,"Anderson explains.
He added that Michelin’s approach feels more like a partnership:
"Yes, you are their customer, but the way they approach things feels like a partnership, with a focus on sustainability, improving MPG and ensuring we have the right tyre for the specific job."
This new agreement concludes a 15-year partnership between Forterra and its previous tyre provider, further cementing Michelin’s role as a key partner in Forterra’s sustainability and efficiency goals.
Forterra is initially trialling Michelin’s versatile X Multi tyres across its fleet, which is expected to be the main choice for its vehicles. For more rugged conditions, such as delivering to construction sites, Forterra will use the robust X Workstyres, with decisions informed by trial data.
A major draw for Forterra is Michelin’s multi-life policy, which is designed to minimise total cost of ownership and reduce environmental impact. Michelin’s policy involves extending the life of tyres through regrooving and retreading. Once the tyres have reached the end of their first life, they are retreaded as MICHELIN Remix tyres. After the Remix tyres are worn, the casings are sent back to Michelin to produce Encore tyres, further extracting maximum performance.
"As a business, the shift to four stages of life for each tyre is a big opportunity for us, which will enhance our sustainability efforts and help us manage our costs," says Anderson.
Operating from 13 locations across the UK, Forterra produces approximately 500 million bricks annually. The company’s fleet includes 143 trucks (rigids with drawbars and tractor units) and 153 drawbar trailers, the majority equipped with mechanical offload systems. This fleet is vital to Forterra’s nationwide operations, ensuring the timely delivery of essential construction materials.
By partnering with Michelin, Forterra aims to further enhance its fleet's operational efficiency and environmental performance while reducing total tyre-related costs through Michelin’s multi-life approach.
