DANVERS, Mass. — Industrial and OTR tire supplier Maxam Tire North America has opened what it's calling an "advanced and automated" solid tire factory in Vietnam, but it did not disclose the exact location or any other salient details.
Danvers-based Maxam is a division of Maxam Tire International S.a.r.l. of Luxembourg, which, in turn, is part of China's Sailun Group, which operates a truck/bus and OTR tire plant in Tay Ninh Province, Vietnam.
Maxam specializes in specialty OTR tire products, covering applications for mining, construction, warehousing and manufacturing.
Maxam said it "fully" owns and operates the recently opened factory, which it said represents a "major commitment to the specialty solid tire segment" and is "strategically aligned" to serve today's market demands better through compound advancement and automated technology.
Maxam Tire North America President Troy Kline said this factory, along with "market-leading" technology and automated equipment, will put Maxam "ahead of the curve" in the solid tire industry.
"When we decided to add this segment to our manufacturing capabilities," Mr. Kline said, "our objective was to re-engineer the production process, showcase our advanced compounding capabilities and deliver improved performance.
"This investment in these new capabilities is driven by our on-going commitment to our customers to serve as a complete business solutions provider through innovation, world-class quality and exceptional value."
The new plant will serve core solid tire industry segments such as materials handling, skid steer telehandler and loader, Maxam said, and will provide the firm's customers a "significant" advantage due to improved efficiencies and an expanded product portfolio.
Earlier this year Maxam disclosed two moves designed to expand its business horizon in the mining and agricultural tire fields.
In February it created a Maxam Mining Group, dedicated to the open pit mining segment, and appointed industry veteran Matt Johnson — who joined Maxam in October 2019 after 13-plus years with Purcell Tire & Rubber Co. — as vice president of the initiative.
More recently it promoted Gregory Gilland to vice president, global agricultural tires, as part of the company's drive to expand its ag tire business.