Oak Hill, Ohio-based retreader H&H Industries Inc. said it made a number of major investments in new equipment to expand its product offering.
“Looking back on 2011, the year brought one of the most, if not the most, rewarding years in our near 40 year history,” said Noah Hickman, president. “All too often the temptation to personally enjoy the financial rewards of a bountiful year is greater than the desire to reinvest in company growth. We at H&H have traditionally maintained the perspective that investing the rewards of a good year back into our business and the customers we serve brings comparable satisfaction while securing our future. Each New Year we set goals that always exceed our reasonable expectations as well as projected capabilities and 2011 was no different with the pleasant exception of exceeding our 2011 inflated goals.”
“Obviously, this production capacity investment and improvement is significant but not necessarily because we can increase production volume but that we can reduce production time and provide a greater product turn around time and customer service,” said Ken Daniels, company CEO and vice president. “I am very proud of our 2011 growth, but I am very cognitive of the undeniable fact that it has all been made possible by our many very valued customers and their continued patronage and for that I am grateful and equally proud.”
Among the investments, H&H Industries installed a TRM model XEM 3800 computer controlled inflatable builder in September, which has the capacity to add retread stock to OTR tires in sizes ranging from 14.00×24 through and including 63-inch tires. H&H Industries said it will be fully operational no later than January 2012.
Also new is the “Earth Scan” by Shand Systems, which was purchased in December 2011. The equipment utilizes ultrasound technology to perform non-intrusive OTR tire inspections.
In August, H&H Industries added a second IMS Fabrication CNC grooving machine. The four-axis groover can handle 24- to 63-inch tires.
Also in August, H&H Industries began manufacturing OTR precure tread stock following the purchase and installation of an Erie Mills 1,018-ton mold press. Now the company can produce its own procure stock in sizes 20.5, 23.5, 26.5, 29.5, 24.00×35, 27.00×49, 35/65×33, 33.00×51 and 57 inches.
H&H Industries also added two reconditioned buffer/builders specifically for solid and foam fill retreading.
To handle some of this expansion, H&H Industries began construction of a new 50×70-foot building, which will give the company more than 70,000 square feet of production space. Construction is expected to be completed in February.
