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NEW ORLEANS REVIEW
Action Tire to Invest in Shearography – Announces Expansion Plans
Jason Stewart, Vice President, Action Tire Co.
Georgia based Action Tire Co is planning to add new equipment and to expand on the tyre retail side by opening new stores in the next few years. A key retreader in Forest Park, Atlanta, and now in its 30th anniversary year, the company retreads 145 tyre per day and in between 30,000 to 35,000 tyre every
month depending on the market sentiments. The family run business started in 1985.
Action Tire saw some of the best years in the business before the US economy crashed in 2007. “We retreaded around 50,000 tyres per month in 2007, but after the crash production slid down and never touched the
earlier peak levels,” said Jason Stewart, Vice President, Action Tire Co.
The retreader has experienced recovery in the retread market and its volumes have improved by 8-10 per cent over the last year. “Low cost radials of Chinese origin have spoiled the market as brand new Chinese tyres are merely US$ 25 plus compared to our cap and casing,” complained Stewart. “The overall retread market is shrinking due to the presence of low cost radials.”
Action hopes to regain its peak of 50,000 soon. “We hope to touch our best figure in the next few years as the market is slowly reverting back to quality. People are slowly realising the sense in investing in good casings, which will last much longer than low price Chinese radials,” Stewart said.
Meanwhile, Action is planning to replace its existing Shearography
machine. “We will soon buy a state-of-the-art Shearography machine to keep pace with the technology,” he said. The plant has five 25-tyre autoclaves of Oliver make.
The firm also has a strong retail business with 12 stores selling all kinds of brands including Toyo, Double Coin, Michelin, Goodyear etc. It also sells casings from the retail stores. “We are planning to open five more retail stores in the next five years, one each year,” Stewart said.