Purcell boosts OTR business with Northwest Retreaders acquisition

POTOSI, Mo. — Purcell Tire & Rubber Co. has acquired Northwest Retreaders of Gresham, Ore., in a move that strengthens Purcell's still burgeoning position in the Pacific Northwest and effectively doubles Purcell's OTR tire retreading capacity.

The deal involves Northwest Retreaders' assets only, Purcell said, meaning the retreader's parent company, NRI Inc., will continue to operate its new tire wholesale business under that name.

Financial terms were not disclosed. NRI was founded in 1978 by Willis Gill.

"We are excited about the prospects that this expansion provides and the markets that it opens to our retreading footprint," Purcell Tire Owner Bob Purcell said.

"This combining of businesses will aid in allowing us to bring innovative and new solutions to our customers and to be the market leader in not only off-the-road retreading, but also in the specialty markets such as the ports and industrial sectors where Northwest has been so strong."

Purcell said the deal also will allow it to bring value to customers by reducing operating costs through improved casing management.

Northwest Retreaders' annual capacity is estimated at 7 million pounds, roughly the same as Purcell's, according to Tire Business' annual rankings of commercial dealers and retreaders.

Purcell operates 72 service locations in 11 states and five countries, five retread plants and a fleet of vehicles that provide pick-up and delivery service to 41 states.

Among Purcell's assets are four locations in Washington and three in Alaska that were acquired in 2016 from Phelps Tire.

The company is considered the No. 9 commercial tire dealership in the U.S. with 2017 sales of $191 million and the 13th largest truck tire retreader, according to Tire Business' annual rankings.