Magazine for the professional tire industry
Issue link: https://mtd.epubxp.com/i/148910
News/views bites Innova expands tech support Innova Electronics Corp. has expanded its Innova Pro technical support operating hours for automotive professionals to seven days a week. Automotive service professionals can call (877) 2277226 daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST to speak in English or Spanish with an ASE-certified technician. Innova supplies test equipment and diagnostic reporting to the automotive aftermarket. Atlantic Tire promotes Browder Atlantic Tire & Service has promoted Jason Browder to general manager of its Raleigh, N.C., location. He will oversee the day-to-day operations of the store. Browder, who has 17 years of experience in the automotive service industry, is an ASE-certified and Bridgestone Pro Certified technician. DENSO adds rewards DENSO Products and Services Americas Inc. has added online claim forms and tracking tools, reward categories, and extra points for enrolling in the My DENSO Rewards program. The program for distributors and technicians in the U.S. and Canada who purchase, sell and install DENSO First Time Fit cabin air filters and wiper blades runs through Nov. 30. TIA, WCTDA host ETS class The Tire Industry Association (TIA) and the Western Canada Tire Dealers Association (WCTDA) are holding a four-day Earthmover Tire Service (ETS) class in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Nov. 19-22, 2013. The program outlines the minimum skills and safety guidelines for servicing OTR assemblies. For details, call (403) 264-3179 or email andy@wctda.ca. Paul Oakley joins Bridgestone Paul Oakley has joined Bridgestone Americas Inc. as vice president of communications. Oakley has extensive experience in the automotive industry and most recently served as a director of global communications and regional public and government affairs at Dow Chemical Co. 12 BKT addresses supply issue It's time to grow, says Casalbore The career path has been long and winding for Carl Casalbore, the 34-year tire industry veteran who was named president of BKT Tires (USA) Inc. in May. His perspective on selling tires — everything from consumer to commercial — is extensive. He has been a salesman and a vice president. He has worked for tire manufacturers and tire dealers. He has experienced frsthand how foreign and domestic companies go to market. Perhaps you remember him from his many years at Pirelli Tire North America Inc. But the learning curve also has taken him to Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., Continental Tire the Americas LLC, Barron's Wholesale Tire Inc., Inter City Tire and, most recently, Zafco Trading LLC. Modern Tire Dealer recently sat down with Casalbore and asked him about his plans for BKT in the United States. "The biggest complaint I have received from dealers is about lack of supply," he says. "Quality is not a problem." Casalbore leads BKT in the U.S. BKT is adding capacity at its two plants in northern India and one in central India. And its new factory in Bhuj, India, which is running at 10% of capacity, will be at 100% capacity by the end of the third quarter of 2014. Casalbore says BKT manufactures more than 2,200 SKUs, and "every factory produces every SKU!" The parent company, Balkrishna Industries Ltd., supplies tires to both the replacement and original equipment markets on a worldwide basis. BKT Tires (USA) will follow suit, according to Casalbore. "We have stayed away from OE in America on purpose because we clearly didn't have the supply. Now that production is in line, we want to get as much penetration in the replacement and OE businesses as we can." Casalbore and Bill Haney, OEM and technical manager, will oversee BKT's OE business in the U.S. Casalbore has divided the country into four sales zones: west, central, northeast and southeast. In addition to farm, small OTR and lawn and garden tires, BKT soon will be selling giant OTR tires. BKT already manufactures a 49-inch bias OTR tire and is working on building a radial version. "We're going to exploit all of these segments," he says. "We need to complement our dealers and not compete against them. We have to be fair in our approach to distribution in the states." — Bob Ulrich Learn the 'Future of Tire Technology' Experts from Ford Motor Co., Firestone Polymers Co. and Pirelli Tyre SpA are among the many tire industry leaders who will be sharing their expertise at Smithers Rapra Inc.'s frst Future of Tire Technology conference and exhibition Oct. 28-30, 2013, in Charlotte, N.C. The agenda wil focus on balancing supplier concerns with consumer perception. It will feature perspectives from tire manufacturers, consumers, automotive companies and material designers and suppliers. Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities are available. Modern Tire Dealer is a media sponsor of the conference. For more information, visit www.futuretiretech.com. MTD August 2013