Meet the Ironman

Talking with Hercules vice president and general manager for eastern hemisphere, Vincent Lewis, reveals that the company’s main news is from the product development department. Firstly the company has launched a new Ironman range of tyres. Available as commercial light vehicle, 4×4 and passenger car radials, the Ironman PCR range is subdivided according to speeding rating. As a result the Type-H line consists of twenty-two 60 to 75 series products in 13 to 16-inch diameters; five 13 to 14-inch 70-series sizes in the Type-T line; and two 15-inch 50 series products in the Type-V offering. The new brand also offers a number of 12 to 15-inch van products and five 15 to 16-inch Radial A/T 4×4/SUV sizes.

This year’s Essen show also saw the former Treadways Exports international division launch its new official corporate identity. The company is now officially known as Hercules Tire International. The new name is said to promote a product focus in a way that the former moniker couldn’t. In addition the new corporate identity also brings the export division’s name in line with other parts of the global business. The global name changeover will reportedly be completed by the end of November 2006.

For Hercules the UK is its largest export market in Europe, with other large markets such as Germany some way behind. This year the export department has received numerous enquiries from various markets, but particularly from countries like Bulgaria and Romania. This could be one reason why Hercules also launched a new range of studable Avalanche X-Treme passenger car and SUV/light truck tyres. The SUV sizes are available in diameters of up to 20 inches and are S to W-rated. The new “snow tyres” will be produced at Hercules’ facilities in both the US and China.

And with warehouses in both countries, the company says it is able to ship to international markets direct from the nearest plant.

US distributor acquisition

Across the Atlantic from the Essen show, The Hercules Tire & Rubber Company (Hercules), announced that it is acquiring Tire Distributor Inc., USA (TDI), a tyre wholesaler headquartered near Miami, Florida although terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“We are very pleased to bring TDI and its management team and employees into the Hercules family,” said Larry Seawell, president and chief executive officer of Hercules, adding: “We had targeted the Southeast region for expansion given the opportunities for growth in that market, and it was important for us to find a strong operating platform in Florida that would allow us to expand our sales and distribution capabilities throughout the Southeast and into Latin America.”

TDI currently has two distribution locations in Florida that generated sales of approximately $30 million in 2005, and Hercules plans to open three more distribution facilities in the Southeast over the next 18 to 24 months. As part of the transaction, the two owners of TDI, Christopher “Rocky” McDonough and Tony Lugioyo, are joining the senior management team of Hercules and will serve as general managers of the Southeast division of Hercules.

“We value the approach to partnership that Hercules has demonstrated, and we are excited about the additional product offerings and resources they offer us,” said Rocky McDonough. “At the same time, this transaction allows us to keep our employees, who have been integral to our historic growth. Teaming up with Hercules will give us the ability to become the dominant player in the Florida tyre market.”