MNA and TCI Launch Disaster Response Service Unit

(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America (MNA) and its subsidiary TCI Tire Centers unveiled a new disaster response service unit that will be used in areas hit by natural disasters.

The Michelin Disaster Response Unit is a fully equipped 53-foot trailer – a “Tire Center on wheels,” according to MNA. It features six air stations for mounting, dismounting, repairing and balancing tires. The office area of the trailer offers satellite communications capability and sleeps up to six people.

Serving as “command central,” the unit will house specially trained field service crew that will perform on-site tire service from self-contained tire inventory and dispatch tire service vehicles where needed.

The trailer can service and repair tires for most commercial and construction equipment vehicles as well as passenger tires, MNA said. However, its main focus will be keeping emergency response vehicles up and running during critical disaster recovery operations.

“We all learned some valuable lessons from the devastating events of 2005,” said Joe Finney, CEO of TCI Tire Centers. “Several TCI locations in Louisiana were without power and sustained significant damage from last year’s hurricanes. As a result, we were not able to service many of our utility company customers that were working around the clock to restore power. The Michelin Disaster Response Unit will ensure that utility company service and other emergency response vehicles are adequately supplied with tires in the case of another natural disaster like hurricanes Rita and Katrina.”

“This dedicated Michelin Disaster Response Unit makes it easier for us to do what we do best – roll up our sleeves and put Michelin expertise to work to help solve the crisis at hand,” said Jim Micali, chairman and president of MNA. “Assuring the 24/7 mobility of critical response vehicles will speed recovery efforts and save lives.”

The disaster response service unit will be based at the TCI Tire Center Atlanta-Ellenwood in Atlanta and will be deployed on request (or as needed) across the continental U.S. to assist in disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts.