FONTANA, Calif.-Kumho U.S.A. Inc. is constructing a 40,000-sq.-ft. addition to its warehouse and office complex in Memphis, Tenn. The project, set for completion this summer, will bring the total space in the Memphis facility to 90,000 square feet, Kumho said. The cost was not disclosed.
The company said the expansion will enable it to improve distribution to dealers in the central and southeastern U.S.
TBC projects sales, earnings increase
MEMPHIS, Tenn.-Building on record first-quarter results, TBC Corp. expects to report higher sales and earnings for 1994, compared with 1993, according to President Louis S. DiPasqua.
Speaking at the company's annual shareholders meeting this spring, Mr. DiPasqua said TBC's strong position with independent tire dealers should help the private brand marketer surpass 1993's net income of $21.4 million and sales of $568.7 million.
``Independent retail tire dealers are expected to continue dominating the replacement tire market,'' Mr. DiPasqua said. ``TBC is uniquely positioned to serve these dealers....''
According to Mr. DiPasqua, TBC's three brands-Multi-Mile, Cordovan and Sigma-combine to give TBC the fourth-largest share of the U.S. replacement tire market, with a near-10-percent share of the light truck segment.
Goodyear races tp 1 million mark
AKRON-Goodyear turned out its 1 millionth Eagle racing radial in mid-June, 11 years after the first one raced in a Formula 1 event.
The milestone tire, a Winston Cup stock car model, featured the 1 million designation on the sidewall, along with the name of Leo Mehl, Goodyear's director of worldwide racing.
The racing tires are made at the firm's Akron technical center.
DieHard batteries to get new makers
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.-Sears, Roebuck and Co. has tapped AC-Delco and Exide Corp. to take over production of its DieHard brand automotive batteries when the contract with the current DieHard supplier, Johnson Controls Inc., expires Sept. 30.
AC-Delco, a unit of General Motors Corp., is a current supplier of Sears private-label batteries.
The decision to change suppliers does not reflect any dissatisfaction with the current quality of DieHard batteries, according to Paul Baffico, president of Sears Automotive Group, but stems from a desire to offer customers ``an expanded selection of automotive batteries to meet their needs at value prices.''
Johnson Controls has made more than 100 million DieHard batteries since their 1967 debut.
Sears said new DieHard batteries made by Delco and Exide will incorporate technology not yet available in the aftermarket and will be offered starting in October.
Awards
Dunlop Tire Corp. said its Sport Rover GTX is the first performance-rated light truck tire approved for listing on QPL-ZZ-T-381, a federal government qualified products list. The radial comes in H-rated P-metric sizes and T-rated LT flotation sizes.
Wheelmaker American Racing Equipment has received Chrysler Corp.'s Pentastar Award, recognizing outstanding commitment as a quality supplier.