North America
Nokian Tyres is investing approximately US$174 million to double tyre capacity at its factory in the USA and to expand warehousing capabilities at the Dayton, Tennessee site. This project will lead to the creation of 75 new jobs at the Dayton facility this year, and the expansion will also enable Nokian to add light truck tyres to the plant’s product mix in 2023.
Sales of Bandag retreaded tyres increased 9% in North America during 2022, with more than seven million units sold during the year. A US$60 million investment in capacities & debut of a new programme for small and mid-sized fleets should ensure continued growth in 2023.
Maxam has expanded its global original equipment supply commitment with the approval of the Agrixtra product line to select Case IH and New Holland brand equipment in North America. Maxam says the series has been helping it make inroads into the OEM supply sector since its launch almost a decade ago. Agrixtra tyres are building a reputation for performance in the value end of the global tyre market, assisted by the new deal with two leading global agricultural manufacturers.
The Vredestein tyre brand has been present in North America for two years now, and Apollo Tyres is expanding the range offered there with the USA launch of the Vredestein Pinza HT. This newest addition to the Pinza family is a highway all-season tyre designed for trucks, SUVs, and crossovers.
Nexen Tire has entered into a further sporting partnership, this time with US ice hockey team the Chicago Blackhawks. Beginning with the 2022–23 season, the tyre maker will feature on a variety of physical and digital marketing assets, including signage at the Blackhawk’s home rink, Fifth Third Arena.
On 7 September, American Tire Distributors (ATD) announced the completion of its Canadian subsidiary’s sale to Groupe Touchette, Canada’s largest locally-owned tyre distributor. By divesting the National Tire Distributors (NTD) business, the wholesaler says it is now “better positioned to serve its customers across the US” and to “invest in the enhanced innovation that is driving its transformation efforts.”
Tyre and construction reinforcement specialist Kordsa is investing US$20 million in its North American facilities with the goal of boosting its cord fabric production for the tyre industry. The company says the investment will enable it to expand the tyre cord dipping line at its facilities to meet increased demand from tyre manufacturers.
The Firestone Polymer Engineering Pilot Center (PEPC) in Akron, Ohio has become the first Bridgestone facility in North America to gain International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) Plus recognition for sustainable raw material transparency and traceability. PEPC is part of the Bridgestone Americas Technology Center, which serves as a hub for Bridgestone’s entire innovation, research and product development within the Americas region.
This week marks the 53rd anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on the surface of the Moon, a date of particular significance for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Goodyear supplied a number of essential components for this history-making mission and later developed non-pneumatic tyres for the Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle. The tyre maker is once again looking spacewards and is developing tyres for a lunar vehicle that in future may extend commercialism to the Earth’s rocky satellite.
After a short tenure as president of Hankook Tire North America, Curtis Brison has taken on the role of vice president of sales, marketing and strategic growth at TireHub, the US-based national tyre distributor jointly founded by Bridgestone Americas and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. The vacancy he leaves within Hankook’s regional operation is being filled on an interim basis by Sooil Lee, chief executive officer of Hankook Tire & Technology.
As of 1 July 2022, new faces will join the management team at Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing, Inc. Shinji Tanabe will become chairman and chief executive officer of the company responsible for Toyo’s tyre plant in Georgia, whilst Patrick Matthew Lenz takes on the roles of president and chief operating officer.
This week, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company achieved a further step towards its goal of fully replacing petroleum-derived oils by 2040. Selected products within the Goodyear Metro Miler range, a city transit tyre available to customers in North America, are now produced using a bio-based soybean oil compound that replaces a portion of the petroleum-based materials used.
Maxam
