COLUMBUS, Ohio-A vocal advocate of retreading, Peggy Fisher found herself ``downsized'' out of a job as president of Roadway Tire Co. March 29 when Calibur System Inc. shut down the Columbus-based truck tire retreading operation. Roadway Tire, opened in 1985, was an in-house retreading shop for Roadway Express Inc., which spun off as an independent company in January from Calibur. The retread shop produced about 160 tires daily and employed 28 people, according to Ms. Fisher.
Akron-based Calibur said it wanted to concentrate on its core business, transportation and logistics, and decided to shut down the retreading operation.
Calibur's various subsidiaries, including RPS Inc. and Viking Freight Inc., will pursue other vendors for retreaded tires, a spokesman said.
A Roadway Express spokesman said the trucking firm will purchase retreads through accounts with Goodyear and Bandag Inc.
Ms. Fisher, an International Tire & Rubber Association board member, said April 23 she had several job options to consider and she expressed a desire to continue working in the truck tire industry.
The closing of the retread shop came as a surprise to Ms. Fisher, who has worked for Calibur, formerly Roadway Services, for 19 years and has worked with its Roadway Tire subsidiary for the past eight years.