TRIB adds directors LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Tire Retread Information Bureau elected two board members and got some financial support for the organization during the recent World Tire Conference in Louisville.
At its annual meeting April 16, the group elected Joe Little of GCR Truck Tire Centers, Akron, and Buck Blair of Tech International, Johnstown, Ohio, to three-year terms as directors. They replace Lester Bergey of Bergey's Inc., Franconia, Pa., and Marty Blum of Raney Tire, Valley View, Ohio, whose terms have expired.
TRIB still needs to fill a third board position and will hold a special election by mail once a candidate is nominated.
TRIB also received several checks during the show.
The International Tire and Rubber Association presented the group a check for $30,000 and Tech gave $3,000. In addition, the Tread Rubber and Tire Repair Materials Manufacturers Group contributed $4,200 as part of its annual contribution of $17,000.
Colway ramps up
Officials of Colway Tyres Ltd., based in Durham, England, said the company's goal for 1997 is to reach sales of more than 2.0 million retreaded tires, which would be a 25-percent increase over the 1.6 million it sold last year.
To produce that amount, the company said it rejects nearly 4.5 million worn casings annually as unsuitable for the manufacturing process.
Ray Laverick, export sales manager for the the 30-year-old bead-to-bead retreader, told TIRE BUSINESS that United Kingdom retreaders produced 7 million passenger and light truck retreads last year.
Some 4 million were for consumption in the U.K. and the remaining were exported.
The company said 20 percent of passenger cars and 40 percent of commercial vehicles on British roads run on retreads. Because U.K. retreads must be manufactured to the same standards as new tires, Colway's tires carry the same speed ratings as their original equipment counterparts, according to Mr. Laverick.