N'awlins mayor welcomes tire/retreading expo

NEW ORLEANS (April 1, 2015) — Mitchell J. Landrieu, mayor of New Orleans, has extended a welcome to showgoers who will be attending the first-ever North American Tire & Retread Expo in the city.

Promoters of the event, scheduled for April 15-17 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, have put together an education program featuring noted industry speakers as well as a trade show that has attracted a number of retread-oriented exhibitors. They include Goodyear, Marongini Tread North America, Vipal Rubber Corp., H.B. Plus Bandamatic, Rema Tip Top North America Inc., Elgi Rubber Co. L.L.C., Nokian Tyres P.L.C. and B&J Rocket America. According to the online exhibitor list, the majority of the exhibitors are Chinese tire makers and/or importers of Chinese tires.

In his statement, Mayor Landrieu said he wanted to thank participants “for meeting in the Crescent City, where you will experience hospitality, history and culture unlike anywhere else in the world.

“New Orleans is a hub of innovation and an ideal backdrop for this outstanding trade show. You'll get a taste of our world-renowned southern hospitality, and you'll have the opportunity to build your network with new contacts and old friends.”

Among speakers for the expo's educational program are:

• Ben Moore, Net Driven — “Understanding Your Digital Footprint”;

• Phil Nigh, global product manager, Tech International — “Tire Repair Evolution: Changing Tire Repair Construction & Placement”;

• David Stevens, managing director of the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB);

• Manny Cicero, former president, Alliance Tires Americas Inc. — “OTR Tires”;

• Joe Casebere, vice president, Tire Repair Materials, Rema Tip Top North America Inc. — “Tire Repair Materials”; and

• David Shaw, Tire Industry Research — “China's tire industry and its place in the world of tires.”

The program will take place 8 to 10 a.m. on April 16. The trade show will run 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. all three days.

Additionally, there will be training sessions on tire and retread equipment from companies such as Tech International, a producer of tire repair and wheel service products, and a “Miss Retread” truck tire contest, with prizes up to $5,000 for the best retreaded truck tire.

More details on the expo are available on its website.