TGI, Wabash National ink supply deal

MIAMI (May 28, 2014) — Tire Group International Inc. (TGI) has signed a supply agreement with Wabash National Corp., a North American diversified industrial manufacturer and producer of semi-trailers and liquid transportation systems.

After a series of tests conducted by independent auditors as well as Wabash National's own quality assurance group, TGI said Lafayette, Ind.-based Wabash “endorsed TGI's products and capabilities for support of its customers across the U.S. TGI's impressive brand portfolio offers a wide product range. Wabash National customers will now have an expanded option of high value products for original equipment and replacement tire offerings.”

TGI said it also will supply the Industrial Purchasing Consortium (IPC), managed by Wabash National on behalf of the IPC member companies. The IPC provides its members—consisting of manufacturing, distributorship and other industrial companies—with incremental savings and cost reduction opportunities through economies of scale in the procurement of raw materials and component parts.

TGI Chief Marketing Officer Joaquin Gonzalez Jr, called the agreement “a milestone” for the company and “a solid stepping stone in further growing our U.S.A. market presence.

“Wabash National and TGI jointly share the core values of integrity, trust and respect for all our customers, associates and partners. This is precisely the type of company that TGI wants to be associated with.”

Wabash National, established in 1985, specializes in the design and production of dry freight vans, refrigerated vans, platform trailers, liquid tank trailers, intermodal equipment, engineered products and composite products sold under the brand names Wabash National; Transcraft; Benson; DuraPlate; Walker Transport; Walker Defense Group; Walker Barrier Systems; Walker Engineered Products; Brenner Tank; Beall; Garsite; Progress Tank; TST; Bulk Tank International; and Extract Technology. More information about the company is available on its website.Miami-based TGI carries more than 40 brands of tires that include its own house brands Astro, Cosmo, Industar, Luna, Orion and Duramas, along with MRF, Bridgestone, Cooper, Goodyear, Sumitomo, Kenda, Mickey Thompson and others. The distributor also carries several brands of tubes and various lines of automotive products.