Partners Day Strategy
At its annual Partners Day meeting in Liberia, Costa Rica, Hankook Tire America Corp. provided the 87 dealers in attendance an overview of the tiremaker’s strategy in terms of logistics, production, OE, marketing strategies and R&D technologies. Shawn Denlein, senior vice president of sales for Hankook Tire America Corp., said that significant investments in each
SD Plans N.A. Expansion with Wheeler at the Helm
SD International, a contract-based global distributor of proprietary brands, announced plans to expand its brand in the North American market with the aim of focusing on opportunities in the U.S. The company appointed Dan Wheeler, a tire industry professional with more than 35 years of experience in the retail, wholesale/distribution and manufacturer levels, to spearhead
Industry Vet Steps In as YTC’s New Director of Technical Service
Replacing the recently retired Dan Guiney, Tom Kenny is now the director of technical service at Yokohama Tire Corp. Kenny, who has worked more than 33 years in the tire industry, will be responsible for technical engineering and service support for all products, Yokohama said. He will also replace Guiney as Yokohama’s representative on the
ChemChina Emerges as Frontrunner in Pirelli Ownership Sweeps
State-owned chemical, rubber and tire giant China National Chemical Corp. (aka ChemChina) has emerged as the reported frontrunner to buy a majority stake in Pirelli SpA. ChemChina counts Aeolus, Yellow Sea, Double Happiness and Torch among its consumer, truck and OTR tire brands. Reuters and Bloomberg reports this morning said ChemChina is close to purchasing
UPDATE: Commerce Department Declares Anti-dumping Duties
Preliminary anti-dumping duties for certain passenger and light truck tires imported from China were set Jan. 21, 2015, by the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration. The duty rates vary between 19.17% and 87.99% before adjustments. As a result of the investigation, the following companies were handed a 19.17% duty rate before adjustments: Giti Tire Global Trading Pte. Ltd.,
Industry Vet Jaiheon Kim Dies
Tire industry veteran Jaiheon (Jack) Kim passed away on Oct. 7. Kim, who worked 36 years in the industry, spent much of his professional career with Hankook Tire before joining Tire Consultants Group as a strategic business associate. During his time with Hankook, Kim was part of the planning team that brought the tiremaker to
With Top 10 Goal, What’s Nexen’s Next Move?
Nexen Tire Corp. has made no secret of its primary goal – be in the global top 10 among tiremakers by 2017 – and now it appears its growth trajectory is keeping pace with its bold ambitions. Currently the world’s 23rd largest tire and rubber company with 2013 revenues of $1.58 billion, Nexen is a
Kenda to Build Factory in China
Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. will build a dedicated truck/bus tire factory in China, a decision that was announced by Kenda Chairman Ying-Ming Yang during last week’s Reifen Show in Essen, Germany. According to the company, the plan will allow Kenda to broaden its scope into the radial truck and bus tire sector. The new truck/bus
TCG Adds Industry Veterans to Its Team
Tire industry veterans David Conley, Dennis Kruppa, Jack Kim and Tom Adams have joined Tire Consultants Group (TCG). The group is a consultancy that specializes in retail tire branding, marketing and retail dealer segmentation programs. Conley will oversee the company’s commercial medium truck, agriculture, off-the-road and industrial tire segments. He has more than 43 years
Pactra Opens Distribution Center in Georgia
South Korean-owned Pactra International Co. has leased spaced in Georgia to provide a new distribution center for Hankook Tire America Corp. The global logistics provider has leased space in Liberty County, Ga., Tradeport East Business Center to establish a southeast distribution center for the tiremaker. The new distribution center will join Hankook’s other major U.S.