AKRON — Smithers Group, a provider of tire testing, consulting and compliance services, has hired Cliff Hodges to be technical director of its Tire & Wheel Test Center in Ravenna, Ohio.
Hodges will direct the technical and quality requirements for the Smithers force and moment testing, tire modeling and other special tire characterizations and evaluation methods. He will also manage and advise technical staff and technical decision-making.
Hodges most recently was a technical specialist at the Global Center for Automotive Performance Simulation in Alton, Va.
"Cliff has hands-on technical engineering experience, as well as strong business acumen," Matt Kent, general manager, Smithers Tire & Wheel Test Center, said.
"His unique blend of technical and leadership experience will be a tremendous asset as we continuously strive to expand and enhance our service offerings to support our valued clients in the tire and wheel industry."
Smithers recently expanded its tire and wheel testing capabilities with the purchase of he indoor tire and wheel testing assets of Standards Testing Laboratories (STL), comprising equipment designed for endurance, high-speed and rolling-resistance testing.