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USA/NEWS EXTRA
Bandag Faces Workforce Issues
On September 19th Bandag workers at Dilsen Stokkem, Belgium, held a strike and then met and accepted, with a clear majority an improved offer on pay. A strike was ended and workers were back at their station by six o'clock on the
following day.
Nonetheless, trade union officials say that this only addresses the pay issue, there are other matters that also need to be addressed said union secretary Eddy Kellens. "We will be discussing these matters
again in January 2012." Other reports suggest that there has been no agreement to reconvene any meeting with the company to discuss any of the outstanding issues.
Honouring The Memory of Edward J. Wagner
Ed Wagner, the former director of the American Retreaders Association (which became the International Tire and Rubber Association and later merged with TANA to become TIA) died during September in a hospice in Louisville, Kentucky. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Martha, 5 sons, 4 daughters, and 9 grandchildren.
In 1968, Ed succeeded George Edwards at ARA. Ed managed the ARA Louisville Conference for 20 years as it grew to become one of the top 200 industrial trade shows in the United States. During that time, ARA's membership grew from 250 to over 1600 members.
From 1956-58, Ed served as the Retreading Institute Director at the National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association. For over 30 years he also wrote for Modern Tire Dealer.
Ed was inducted into the Tire Industry Hall of Fame in 1998. Said TIA Executive Vice
President Roy Littlefield, "Ed had a tremendous positive impact on the industry, on the Association, and on me. Ed Wagner was a prince. He was fair-minded, witty, enthusiastic, respectful and warm. He was one of the most intelligent individuals I have ever known. Ed Wagner was a proud man. He was proud of his wife, Martha, and of his large and loving family. He was proud of his Catholic traditions, and he was proud of our industry Association.
Over the years that I had an opportunity to work with Ed, he always had time to share his wisdom with me. Right up to our last telephone conversation, he was full of energy to put a new strategy into play.
I can truly say that I am a better person because of Ed Wagner. We all are. God bless."
Marangoni Tread North America Produces its Two-Millionth RING
Parrish Tire Co., North Carolina, which operates retail tyre stores, commercial truck tyre service centres and tyre retread plants, has purchased an 87,500- square-foot distribution centre adjacent to its headquarters with plans to consolidate its smaller warehouses into one location. The 65-year-old tyre company closed on the purchase of the
building for $2.14 million in August, and company President Logan Jackson said the building presented an opportunity to centralize the storage of tyres in a more convenient location.
The company’s 115,000-square- foot headquarters is located just west of the warehouse.
On Friday, September 9, 2011, Marangoni Tread North America celebrated the two-millionth RING production at their North American headquarters in Madison, Tennessee. Bill Sweatman, President and CEO of the North American operations, spoke at the reception to congratulate everyone on this great success. Also present for this big event were Massimo De Alessandri, CEO of Marangoni S.p.A., and Giuseppe Ferrari, Managing Director of Marangoni S.p.A Retreading Systems, who both took a few moments to extend
their thanks to MTNA on their continued success.
In 2004, Marangoni Tread North America began producing RINGTREAD® at their 150,000- square-foot facility in Madison, Tennessee, and in 2008 announced production of its first one-million RINGs.
The RINGTREAD System remains the premium technology for the retreading industry. The RINGTREAD, due to its splice- less design delivers a more balanced tire, resulting in better fuel economy, less rolling resistance, improved mileage and increased reliability.
Parrish Tire Consolidates
48 Retreading Business
Pictured: (Back - From left to right) Bill Sweatman, CEO & President of Marangoni Tread North America; Carlos Franco, Production Associate; Chanthavy Vongsamphanh, Plant Manager; Giuseppe Ferrari, Marangoni S.p.A Retreading Systems Managing Director; Massimo De Alessandri, CEO of Marangoni S.p.A.; (Front) Bobby Woods, Production Manager