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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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 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.
Following Falken Tires’ recent selection as an original equipment (OE) supplier for the 2019 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, Falken tyres will also be OE on the 2020
Jeep Gladiator mid-sized pickup truck.
On 5 June 2019 Continental opened the new Advanced Indoor Evaluation Center at its Ulvade, Texas testing facility. The company has invested around 9 million euros in the new facility, which tests the properties of passenger car tyres. The Advanced Indoor Evaluation Center is designed to test all passenger tyre models manufactured in Continental’s North and South American tyre plants.
Toyota has chosen Hankook tyres as original equipment for the North American market 2020 Corolla. The new model, which went on sale in April, wears the Hankook Kinergy GT (pattern H436) in size 205/55R16 91H.
At the time of going to press, the President of the United States of America is mid-way through a state visit to the UK. Before he even landed on British soil, President Donald Trump stirred up controversy by tweeting his disparaging thoughts about London Mayor Sadiq Kahn. Whatever view one might hold about the propriety of Trump’s visit, we all know that 31-gun salutes and tea with the queen are about more than niceties. Sure enough less than 24 hours into the state visit, presidential talk turned to trade, with Trump backing out-going Prime Minister Theresa May to complete Brexit negotiations and promising a “phenomenal” trade deal between the US and UK. But all this is set against the backdrop of all-out trade war between the US and China at the same time that Europe is involved in somewhat more Cold War-esque trade skirmishes with China as well. The questions are: do such measures work? And what do they mean for the tyre business?
Following the US’s implementation of 25 per cent import tariffs on Chinese aluminium wheels on 1 May, China exported 70,400 metric tonnes of aluminium alloy wheels in April, down 9.6 per cent compared with the previous month and down 11.6 per cent compared with the year before. However, while down Chinese wheel exports in April were above their recent low point. In February exports dipped to the lowest in five years at 53,700 tonnes.
Hankook Tire was named a GM supplier of the year by General Motors during its 27th annual Supplier of the Year awards ceremony, which was held in Detroit, USA on 15 May. This is the third time Hankook Tire has received the award.
Plans for a new factory may be on hold, but Sentury Tire USA says demand for its tyre brands is growing – and this growth has necessitated the operation’s move to a larger headquarters and warehouse. The new corporate office and warehouse, twice the size of the former location, is located in Hialeah, Florida.
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