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.
When the global joint venture between Goodyear Tire & Rubber and Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) ended in 2015, the Goodyear tyre plant in Buffalo, New York became a SRI asset. Production of Dunlop branded tyres destined for fitment as original equipment on new vehicles nevertheless continued, however it seems SRI intends to discontinue this arrangement next year.
Jiangsu General Technology Co., Ltd. is establishing a wholly-owned subsidiary in the Georgia, US, which is likely to be called General Rubber (North America) Limited.
Camso has expanded its tyre service and material handling distribution footprint in the USA with the acquisition of Texas-based Omni Industrial Tire. Commenting on the acquisition, Bob Bulger, vice-president and general manager – Solideal On-Site Service, said: “The acquisition of Omni Industrial Tire will enable Camso to further penetrate the Texas market and consolidate its leadership position in this region. Omni has a strong and respected name in Texas, and shares our unique view of providing OTR mobility solutions.”
A tentative agreement has been reached on a new five-year master labour contract covering almost 7,000 workers at five Goodyear Tire & Rubber plants in the USA. The agreement between the tyre maker and the United Steelworkers (USW) union covers plants in Akron (Ohio), Danville (Virginia), Fayetteville (North Carolina), Gadsden (Alabama) and Topeka (Kansas).
Mike Welch, the founder of UK online tyre retail website Blackcircles.com, has been appointed to the board of US online tyre retailer SimpleTire. Welch has taken up the position of strategic advisor for the company, which sources inventory from independent suppliers and ships to the customer’s chosen location.
TP Commercial Solutions LLC has announced it will have a new office headquarters in San Diego, California from 1 September. The company’s move will cater for its expansion in the US and Canada for Truck, Agricultural and Off Road tyres. TP Commercial Solutions LLC is part of Prometeon Tyre Group, the fourth largest commercial tyre group in the world, which used to be part of Pirelli.
The airless Tweel solution has been a part of the Michelin portfolio in North America for several years now, and Michelin Tweel Technologies has now announced the commercial launch of a new extension to the range, the Michelin X Tweel Turf Caster for zero-turn commercial lawnmowers.
TPMS specialist Hamaton Ltd states that since opening last November, its North American headquarters – Hamaton Inc. – has achieved strong first-year growth. This growth, it adds, has accelerated rapidly in recent months following the acquisition of a number of new customers.
Engineering, architecture and construction management firm SSOE Group has been selected to design the new Sentury Tire manufacturing facility and North American headquarters in LaGrange, Georgia.
It isn’t just copycats in China that the tyre majors are going after. Michelin North America reports that it filed a lawsuit against Tire Recappers of Nashville yesterday. Michelin alleges that the manufacturer and seller of retreaded SUV, crossover and crossover tyres infringed design patents covering the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 and Michelin LTX M/S2 tyres.
A total of 394,378 Primewell brand passenger car tyres are being recalled in the USA due to their potential to develop cracks in the lower sidewall. Beginning 20 July, GITI Tire (USA) Ltd. is recalling the replacement market Primewell Valera Touring II in sizes 185/65R14 86H, 195/60R15 88H, 205/55R16 91H, 205/60R16 92V, 215/60R17 96H and 235/60R17 102T.
Giti Tire has received confirmation that two sizes of Giti brand tyres will be fitted as original equipment on the 2019 Volkswagen Passat in North America. The Passat will wear the All-Season GitiComfort A1 in sizes 235/45R18 95H and 235/40R19 92H. These approvals are the first original equipment placements for Giti brand tyres that will be manufactured at the company’s plant in Chester County, South Carolina, which is expected to begin production later this year.
TP Commercial Solutions LLC has appointed Alex Vitale as its new CEO for North America. The appointment is effective immediately and will see Vitale bring over 20 years of global tyre industry experience to lead the company’s efforts and expansion in the commercial truck and fleet markets in the US and Canada.
The Bridgestone off-the-road tyre plant in Bloomington, USA has been granted Platinum certification in the Caterpillar Supplier Quality Excellence Process (SQEP). This achievement follows two years of holding Gold level SQEP certification with the earthmover machinery manufacturer.
For the 63rd consecutive year, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is in the upper echelon of American businesses in Fortune magazine’s annual ranking of the 500 largest companies in the United States. Based on 2016 sales of US$15.2 billion, Goodyear is the 184th largest business in the country. It is ranked fourth in the magazine’s Motor Vehicles and Parts category.
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