VMI Americas appoints new sales manager
Bill Bisson has joined VMI Americas as area sales manager. In his new role, he will oversee sales of VMI’s extruder-gear pump systems.
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.
Bill Bisson has joined VMI Americas as area sales manager. In his new role, he will oversee sales of VMI’s extruder-gear pump systems.
The Team Dynamics USA has closed its California office and appointed Forgeline Motorsports in Dayton, Ohio as its American distributor.
Scientists at NASA’s Glenn Research centre are offering a non-pneumatic tyre up for licence as part the space agency’s technology transfer programme.
The “superelastic” tyre was developed for future Mars missions but is said to be a viable alternative to pneumatic tyres here on Earth. This technology represents the latest evolution of the spring tyre which was invented by NASA Glenn and Goodyear, and inspired by the Apollo lunar tyres.
On 20 November 2017 the United States District Court for the Central District of California held Chinese tyre factories Doublestar Dong Feng Tyre Co., Ltd. (DDF) and Qingdao Doublestar Tire Industrial Co., Ltd. (QDT) in contempt for violating a 2014 Final Judgment prohibiting the manufacture and sale of tyres using a confusingly similar tread to that of Toyo’s best-selling Open Country M/T. DDF and QDT were held in contempt for selling the AMP M/T tyre, which was deemed to be too similar.
Sentury Tire is launching a new tyre subscription scheme in the USA. The company, which is currently in the process of setting up a new production facility within the country, has launched a service there under the AvanTech name.
In disclosures to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, Triangle Tyre Co., Ltd. reports its intention to invest US$580 million in what the company calls its “America Factory Project”. The investment will cover the cost of erecting facilities for producing both passenger car and commercial vehicle tyres.
Growth is occurring at US-based aftermarket alloy rim manufacturer TSW Alloy Wheels. In addition to opening distribution centres in Atlanta and Dallas to complement its headquarters site in California and the planned opening of a centre in Chicago in the coming months, the company has acquired Florida-based specialist Good Roads Auto Systems together with its many wheel brands and a distribution centre.
The Pirelli Calendar is a survivor. While other pin-up calendars from within our industry have long been banished to workshop tearooms to avoid offending customers, Pirelli’s handiwork is hailed as iconic by countless people around the world, including those ignorant of the company’s day job as tyre maker. Followers of this most famous of all corporate freebie calendars eagerly await the launch of a new edition, and today their cup of joy is surely overflowing. At a high-budget event in New York, Pirelli has unveiled next year’s Cal.
Tim Chaney has taken on the role of vice-president of marketing at Toyo Tire USA Corp., succeeding Amy Coleman, who served as senior director of marketing until her retirement in September.
Cooper Tire’s newest crossover vehicle (CUV), sport utility vehicle (SUV) and pickup truck tyre has been named a New Product Award winner in the tyre and related product category at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas.
US-based truck service and tyre care chain Speedco now has a new owner following the finalisation of its acquisition by Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores. Previously owned by Bridgestone Americas, the Speedco network contains more than 52 outlets across the USA; its acquisition means the number of Love’s-operated tyre service and lube facilities climbs to more than 320.
Atturo will introduce its new CV400 commercial van tyre at SEMA (booth 43265, South Hall). The tyre is designed for such models as the Ford Transit and Ram Pro Master, vehicles which have become increasingly popular for all types of urban service and delivery fleets. The segment opportunities have expanded into consumer markets as the modern full size van for camping, luxury conversions and group transportation. Atturo says the extension of its range for this category is a “natural complement to the brand’s dedication to the light truck market segment.”
Groundbreaking has taken place on the new tyre technology centre that Nexen Tire is setting up in the US, and the South Korean company also reports that plans to establish a factory in North America are “in progress.”
Amongst the first markets to receive Hankook Tire’s Laufenn brand was the United States, the location for the range’s introduction in November 2014. Since then, the brand has enjoyed continued growth, and Hankook Tire anticipates a 143 per cent year-on-year increase in Laufenn tyre sales in the US this year.
Following the news that Tyre Bay Direct entered administration on 25 September, the company has announced that it is now part of Atlas Equipment. According to the company website, “After a short break in operations, Tyre Bay Direct is now fully operational and capable of meeting the usual needs of customers.”
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