Dave Zielasko joins TIA
Dave Zielasko, the former Tire Business editorial director and publisher, has been named as vice president of marketing and communications of the Tire Industry Association (TIA).
Across the Atlantic they are called tires, while over here we use a “Y” and say tyres. This tag provides the latest tyre business news emanating from the United States of America (USA), whichever way you spell it.
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Tom Conway appointed USW international president
Thomas M. Conway has succeeded Leo W. Gerard as international president of the United Steelworkers union (USW). He became the eighth person to hold this position at a ceremony held on 15 July.
Cooper investing US$4 million in Tupelo mixing
Cooper Tire & Rubber is investing a further $4 million into its plant in Tupelo, Mississippi. Local news sources, citing documents filed with the city said the money will be invested in upgrading the Tupelo plant’s mixing facilities.
Enviro: Partners still “highly interested” in Danish, North American tyre recycling projects
The deadlines set out in two of the memoranda of understandings signed between Scandinavian Enviro Systems (Enviro) and firms based in Denmark, the USA and Canada last year may have passed, yet Enviro says this “will not affect the outcome of the negotiations or the possibility of opening the various plants.” The Swedish company still expects to establish joint venture tyre recycling plants with all three partners in the not too distant future.
Toyo Tires approves USA factory expansion
One of the outcomes of today’s Board of Directors meeting at Toyo Tire Corporation is the decision to invest in ramping up capacity at the company’s tyre factory in North America. Approximately 7 billion yen (£51.6 million) will be invested in this project.
Nokian Tyres starts trial production in USA
Trial production at Nokian Tyres’ new factory in Dayton, USA has begun with the production of the very first test tyre. Nokian Tyres says the manufacture of the Nokian eNTYRE 2.0 in size 205/55R16 marks the start of a half-year trial period in which “thousands” of tyres will be produced for “testing and machine calibration purposes” prior to the commencement of series production in early 2020.
Ex-Bridgestone Helton to lead TBC’s Midas
Midas, which has more than 2,100 franchised, licensed and company-owned Midas auto shops in 14 countries (including 1,200 in the US and Canada), recently promoted Will Helton to vice president and general manager. Helton joined Midas two years ago from Bridgestone. Prior to the promotion he was division vice president of the Central US and Canada Regions at Midas. At Bridgestone Helton was Region Manager which was the culmination of 16 years with Bridgestone.
Blackcircles founder Welch nominated for TIA board of directors election
The Tire Industry Association (TIA), which lobbies for tyre safety in the USA, has announced the nominations for the 2019 Board of Directors. Four individuals will be elected to serve on the TIA Board for a three-year term. The voting period will end on Sunday 1 September 2019.
Synthomer acquisition values Omnova at £654 million
Essex-based Synthomer plc, one of the world’s major suppliers of aqueous polymers, has agreed to buy Omnova Solutions Inc., which develops, manufactures and markets polymers, dispersions, elastomers and other speciality chemicals, at a price of US$10.15 per Omnova share. The acquisition values Omnova’s entire issued and to be issued share capital at US$473 million (approximately £375 million), with an implied enterprise value of US$824 million (approximately £654 million). The move is now subject to regulatory approval. This is expected to complete in the fourth quarter of 2019 or the first quarter of 2020.
ZC Rubber hires Phothisane for OTR business in USA
Chan Phothisane has joined ZC Rubber America, Inc. as OTR National Sales Director. In this role, he will oversee the company’s off-highway business in the US market.
Marangoni opens new Ringtread Facility in Florida
On 1 July 2019 Marangoni Tread North America Inc. announced that PRIDE Enterprises in Avon Park, Florida is now part of the Marangoni Ringtread network.
Reports: Brembo aiming for largescale acquisition
Brembo is lining up a “significant size” acquisition, even as large as the brake maker itself. Local newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore quoted Brembo executive vice-president matteo tiraboschi as saying that the company is looking for potential targets outside Italy, especially in Europe and the US and even China: “It must a healthy company of a certain size – with good numbers, technology and R&D – that fits our business”.
Yokohama wins Subaru Supplier Award
In the USA, Yokohama Tire Corporation has been recognized by Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) with a supplier’s award in the Excellent Performance category. Yokohama earned the award for its supply of the AVID S34P (225/40R18 88V) tyres on the Impreza.
US distributor TireHub expands
TireHub, the USA-based tyre distributor co-founded by Bridgestone Americas and Goodyear Tire & Rubber, has undergone its first expansion since its creation last July with the opening of a new TireHub Logistics Center (TLC) in Fort Myers, Florida.
Cooper launches Pro Series LHT trailer tyre
Cooper Tire has introduced a new long haul trailer (LHT) tyre, which completes the company’s signature Cooper Pro Series product line-up with fitments at each tractor/trailer wheel position. The Cooper Pro Series LHT joins the Cooper Pro Series long haul drive and long-haul steer tyres that were previously introduced. The new trailer tyre is available in 295/75 R22.5, with additional sizes becoming available later this summer.
