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NORTH AMERICA NEWS
Technical Reinforcement for B&J Rocket America
Marangoni Petitions in Response to Tariff Decision
With immediate effect, Arjun Dhamodharan joins the team of Marcos Guzmán, General Manager Manufacturing at Middlebury, Indiana-based B&J Rocket America. Dhamodharan will focus primarily on the quality of production, while also considering the optimisation of efficient processes. He is well prepared for his new duties, as he
holds a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering as a graduate of the Oklahoma State University. In his function, he reports directly to Marcos Guzmán who is looking forward to expanding his team: "With Arjun, we will continue to improve our line-up and develop new products for our customers."
Marangoni Tread North America has launched a petition that urges President Donald Trump to appoint a new commissioner to fill a vacancy at the U.S International Trade Commission.
The petition comes as a result of the Feb. 22 ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission not to impose tariffs on truck and bus tyres imported from China, Marangoni said. The company said the result threatens more than 60,000 U.S. jobs in the retreading
and related industries.
One member of the ITC recused himself in the final determination case, and with the absence of one commissioner, the final vote was 3 to 2 not to impose tariffs. A 3 to 3 tied vote would have led to tariffs being affirmed.
If the petition gains enough signatures and Trump appoints a new commissioner, Marangoni hopes a full commission can review the Chinese truck and bus tyre case.
McCarthy Tire Expands Again
McCarthy Tire Service has purchased P.J. Dooling Tire Company in Philadelphia.
The company specialises in industrial and off-the-road tyre sales and service with an expertise in foam filling and pressing.
“I am looking forward to working with the Dooling Team,” said John D. McCarthy Jr., president of McCarthy Tire Service. “The acquisition is a great addition to our existing footprint. The Dooling
family exhibits many of the same ‘service the customer’ philosophies that we have, so we believe it will be a seamless transition for their customers.”
Dooling Tire’s sales and service operations will be merged into McCarthy Tire’s current commercial location in nearby Trainer.
Twelve employees, including brothers Greg and Paul Dooling, will join McCarthy Tire Services.
Bridgestone Bandag
Abilene Plant Celebrates
45th Anniversary
Michelin Acts on Patent Infringement
Bridgestone Americas, Inc. celebrated the 45th anniversary of the opening of its Bandag Retread Plant in Abilene, Texas, recently. The plant, which originally opened as a Bandag facility, today employs more than 170 people.
“Bridgestone’s roots in Abilene run deep, and it has been our privilege to call this community home for the last 45 years,” said Jeremy Gray, Abilene Plant Manager. “We’d like to thank the Abilene community for its support over the past 45 years. The Abilene team is excited to begin this next chapter in our plant’s history.”
The Abilene Plant has received numerous awards and certifications for its commitment to improving health and safety at the plant, as well as for community involvement. Abilene was awarded the Rubber Manufacturers Association’s Improvement Award in 2014 and 2015, as well as the Keep Abilene Beautiful Recycling Award in 2015.
Retreading is always at risk of being accused of patent infringement and similar charges. It comes with the territory. The tyre industry is constantly changing and designs are constantly being updated. A tyre today does not look the same as a tyre 30 years ago. The tread patterns have been fine tuned to give the best performance by the tyre manufacturers. Retreaders seeking to compete will strive to do their utmost to obtain as close a performance to new from their retreads. It is only natural that the retread patterns will closely follow the new tyre patterns. To the casual onlooker many retreads are visually indistinguishable from the new tyres, and that is a good thing, because it shows that the retreader is up to date with his designs and therefore his efficiency.
However, there is a temptation to stray too close to current new tyre designs and some tyre manufacturers are keen to prevent infringement of their patents. Michelin is at the forefront of the campaign to prevent patent infringement and it does take action against those who come too close to their technology.
The latest case involves an American retreader, Tire Recappers of Nashville Inc. where Michelin allege that the retreader has copied Michelin and BF Goodrich tread patterns. In this case the patterns involved are 11 and
6 years old, so not the latest technology.
Michelin filed the complaint July 10 before the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.
At issue are U.S. Design Patent Nos. D530,266 and D639,235 — the D'266 and D'235 patents, as designated in the suit.
Michelin has held the D'266 patent since Oct. 17, 2006 and the D'235 patent since June 7, 2011, the tyre maker said.
The D'266 patent is the tread design for various BFGoodrich tyres, including the BFGoodrich T/A KM2, according to Michelin. The D'235 patent is the tread design for several Michelin tyres, including the Michelin LTX M/S 2, it said. Michelin has asked the court to block Tire Recappers from its alleged infringement of Michelin's patents. It also asked for compensatory damages; reimbursement of profits Tire Recappers made from tyres found to infringe on Michelin's patents; and attorneys' fees and court costs.
ESCO Introduces New OTR Tyre Spreader
Brooksville, Florida-based ESCO (Equipment Supply Company) has announced the launch of its new OTR Tire Spreader [Model #90456] for off-the-road, mining, agricultural, and larger truck tyres. Designed to pick up where other tyre spreaders fall short, the OTR Tire Spreader has 10 Tons of separating force along with a range of 6-34 inches. As a portable, lightweight
handheld spreader, it is ideal for service out in the field and in service shops. The spreader operates by using air/hydraulic foot or manual pump (sold separately). Also available is the OTR Safety Lockout Bar, designed to be used in conjunction with the OTR Tire
Spreader to assist in maintaining the separation between the tyre, while releasing the hydraulic pressure from the spreader; making for a much “safer” environment for technician to work on the tyre.
12 Retreading Business