Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • BEST PLACES TO WORK
  • News
    • HUMANITARIAN
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
    • OBITUARIES
    • OPINION
    • MID YEAR REPORT
    • SERVICE ZONE
  • ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Resources
    • Events
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • AWARDS
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Best Places to Work
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
November 09, 2015 01:00 AM

Kenda opens U.S. R&D center

Bruce Davis
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Ying-Ming Yang, chairman of Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd., and Jimmy Yang, president of American Kenda Rubber Co., presided over the ribbon cutting Nov. 9 of Kenda's American Technology Center in Green, Ohio.

    GREEN, Ohio (Nov. 9, 2015) — American Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd. has christened its North American technology center in Green, a facility the top executives of parent Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd. termed essential to the firm's plans to gain OE supply contracts in North America.

    The 50,000-sq.-ft. facility is home to 18 technicians but could house 60 to 70 in two to three years, according to Tom Williams, vice president of engineering at Kenda.

    Kenda budgeted $2 million to open the facility, which sits about a mile east of the Akron-Canton Airport between Akron and Canton, Ohio, Mr. Williams said. In addition, state, county and local agencies are contributing about $1.5 million in aid and investment incentives.

    Some of the incentives are tied to minimum employment, according to information released earlier this year.

    Kenda expects the addition of the U.S. technology center will be instrumental in helping the Taipai, Taiwan-based company break into the OE business in North America, according to Kenda Rubber Chairman Ying-Ming Yang and American Kenda Rubber President Jimmy Yang, speaking with Tire Business following a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 9.

    Tire Business photo by Bruce Davis

    Among those participating in the ribbon-cutting at the Kenda American Technology Center in Green, Ohio, were (left to right) Ying-Ming Yang, chairman of Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd.; Mary Taylor, lieutenant governor of Ohio; and Jimmy Yang, president of American Kenda Rubber Co.

    Kenda already is an OE supplier of temporary spare tires to a number of U.S. vehicle makers, Jimmy Yang said, which provides Kenda with an existing relationship on which it hopes to build.

    The Green technology center is Kenda's third such facility, complementing centers in Yuanlin, Taiwan, and Kunshan, China.

    Reynoldsburg, Ohio-based American Kenda declined to comment on the resolution. The firm, a subsidiary of Taiwan's Kenda Rubber Industrial Co., announced plans in April 2014 for an Akron-area R&D center.

    It set up temporary R&D operations last year on the premises of Martin Wheel Co., an affiliated company, in Tallmadge, Ohio. Those personnel and other newly hired technicians are now housed at the Green facility.

    Kenda plans to add a rubber testing laboratory, a noise testing facility and other facilities in the coming months at the facility, which it shares for next couple of years with three other tentants.

    Kenda Rubber reported tire sales of $1.17 billion in 2014, placing it 28th in Tire Business' 2015 Global Tire Report ranking of the 75 largest tire makers. The firm derives about 21 percent of its global revenue from sales in North America, Ying-Ming Yang said, making the region the company's No. 2 sales generator behind China.

    Related Articles
    Video: Kenda opens technology center
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Goodyear to trim jobs amid 'uncertain' economic outlook
    2
    Natural rubber production impacted by ‘severe' leaf disease outbreak
    3
    Point S launches aggressive growth plan
    4
    Yokohama secures OE fitments on 2023 Prius models
    5
    Executives on the move: Hankook promotes key U.S. positions
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • BEST PLACES TO WORK
    • News
      • HUMANITARIAN
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
      • OBITUARIES
      • OPINION
      • MID YEAR REPORT
      • SERVICE ZONE
    • ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Resources
      • Events
        • ASK THE EXPERT
        • LIVESTREAMS
        • WEBINARS
        • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
        • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION