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.
Last Sunday’s 2018 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, USA saw Romain Dumas steer his ‘Unlimited’ class, all-electric Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak to victory on specifically-developed Michelin tyres.
A new track manufacturing plant is being set up in the USA to meet growing demand from agricultural and construction segment customers for Camso’s tracks and track systems. The 139,000 square foot (12,900 square metre) facility, located in Junction City, Kansas, is expected to open in January 2020. The increase in production capacity that will accompany the plant’s opening will enable Camso to shorten its delivery lead times.
Effective for all shipments on or after 1 August 2018, or as contracts allow, Sid Richardson Carbon is increasing prices on all carbon black products.
In mid-June US president Donald Trump announced plans to impose 25 per cent tariffs on US$50 billion worth of Chinese goods. However, the above round of tariffs was actually an additional wave that followed as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing trade war with China. Steel is at the centre of this dispute, with President Trump suggesting that China is dumping steel in America. But now US tyre cord makers could close due to steel tariffs.
In May Cimcorp, the Finland-based manufacturer and integrator of turnkey robotic gantry-based order fulfilment and tire-handling solutions, shared construction plans to expand its production and office facilities at its headquarters in Ulvila, Finland. The new facilities will be built on 8,500 square metres of land, bought by Cimcorp in August 2017, nearly doubling the footprint of its current 9,500-square-metre space. The expansion will enable the company to accommodate its continuing business growth with greater capacity and efficiency, as well as incorporate new space for research and development.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (Goodyear) and Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (Bridgestone)’s TireHub LLC joint venture in passenger and light truck tyre distribution, will begin serving customers the first week of July. The joint venture received clearance from all required regulatory authorities earlier in June, enabling the creation of one of the largest national tyre distributors in the United States. The transaction is expected to close at the end of June.
US president Donald Trump has announced plans to impose 25 per cent tariffs on US$50 billion worth of Chinese goods, according to various leading news sources. The tariffs affecting over 800 products including aircraft tyres and are due to come into effect on 6 July. The White House said it would consult on tariffs on the other $16 billion of products with a view to applying these later.
Chief executives from regional tyre manufacturing associations including the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA), the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC), the Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association, Inc. (JATMA), the Korean Tire Manufacturers Association (KOTMA), and the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) convened a two-day meeting 5-6 June 2018 in Washington, DC. The goal was to discuss “issues of importance to the tyre manufacturing industry and the stakeholders it serves across the globe”. Major topics included industry commitments in sustainability and environmental stewardship, the comprehensive global regulatory landscape and a platform for increased dialogue.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was recently recognised by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) with a Leadership Award for promoting innovative practices to improve worker safety.
Bridgestone Americas, Inc. has named Andy Sobotta its Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). He begins in this capacity on 21 May and will be based in the company’s headquarters town of Nashville. He will report to Stefano Mezzabotta, chief information officer, Bridgestone Americas, with dotted-line reporting to Chris Karbowiak, chief administrative officer, chief risk officer and executive vice-president, Bridgestone Americas.
Brad Wurst has joined Smithers Rapra as Tire Engineering Consultant, bringing with him almost 30 years of experience in the field of tyre engineering. His work within the Smithers Rapra technical consulting group will focus upon providing specific guidance and solutions that address clients’ development and quality-related challenges. The new Tire Engineering Consultant will also help clients in developing a plan of action to implement solutions for their tyre design needs.
US-based vehicle servicing chain Sears Auto Center is now working with Amazon.com to provide full-service tyre installation and balancing for customers who purchase any brand of tyres on Amazon.com. The service will be rolled out across the USA over the coming weeks. In addition, Sears Auto’s own ‘DieHard’ all-season passenger tyre brand has been introduced on Amazon.com.
General Motors recognized its most innovative partners at its 26th Supplier of the Year awards ceremony on 20 April in Orlando, Florida. Recipients of the Supplier of the Year award include 125 suppliers from 17 countries, with 16 first-time winners, as well as 11 companies who earned GM’s Innovation Award, Overdrive Award and Customer of the Year award.
Toyo Tire and Rubber and Toyo Tire USA have prevailed in the liability phase of the company’s trade dress infringement and breach of contract suit in Los Angeles Federal Court against Doublestar Dong Feng Tyre and Qingdao Doublestar Tire Industrial.
Marketing rights to the Interstate tyre brand have been acquired by TBC Corporation this month. This transaction follows the entry of Interstate Tire & Rubber into insolvency late last year. The US-based aftermarket tyre distributor has also appointed Theo de Vries, formerly director marketing and sales at Interstate Tires, its new international sales and marketing manager.
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