Industrial tires
Sales of industrial tires pick up as ports and construction sites get busier By Ann Neal
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hen the mining industry slumped, OTR retreader Noah Hickman of H&H Industries Inc. looked elsewhere for business. “We’ve branched out into markets such as ports, construction, and other areas to combat the slowdown of the coal market,” says Hickman, whose Oak Hill, Ohio-based company holds the No. 25 spot on Modern Tire Dealer’s “2015 Top 100 retreaders” list. Te type of tire being retreaded has not changed. “Most of these tires we’re capping are the same: 1800-33,18.00-25 for ports, 25-inch for construction, and all sizes for material handling,” says Hickman. More activity at the nation’s ports and on construction sites is boosting sales of industrial tires, too. “Economic recovery and a strong dollar encourage consumer spending,” says Bruce Besancon, vice president of marketing for Alliance Tire Americas Inc. “Fourth-quarter spending in 2014 was the best it’s been in eight years, and forecasts indicate that trend is likely to continue. Tat means warehouses and ports will be busy. Construction is recovering, too, so we’ll see demand for tires at both the OEM and the replacement levels.” Tom Van Ormer, director of pricing for East Bay Tire Co., a wholesaler, exporter and commercial dealer with nine locations in California and Hawaii, says a rebound in business at rental and construction companies is boosting demand for forklif and material handling tires. Continental Tire the Americas LLC also sees more demand for forklif tires and tires for harbor and port operations. “We are expecting to grow another 30% in 2015 as we continue to prove the lowest cost of ownership,” says Gary Sass, U.S. sales manager for commercial specialty tires.
Alliance says it developed the Galaxy Giraffe XLW with extremely sturdy sidewalls, special tread design and a very large, fat footprint to handle dynamic loads and provide stability for the operator.
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Rovince International Corp. believes demand for forklif and material handling tires will steadily increase in 2015 thanks to more transit and a general increase in commerce, according to Troy Rudnick, who heads up marketing for the California-based industrial tire distributor. “We also believe that the commercial truck tire industry is a good indicator for the demand for forklif tires. Te more loading and unloading of these trucks, the more demand there will be for forklif tires.” Jim Enyart, technical service manager at BKT Tires USA Inc., a subsidiary of Balkrishna Industries Ltd., says the prospects for 2015 are defnitely improving. “We are optimistic with the improving economy and expect this market to improve as the year develops.” Fleets are becoming more cost conscious and more aware of driver comfort benefts, according to Justin MacLanders of Michelin North America Inc. As a result, the company is seeing more demand for radial tires and growth in the industrial market. MacLanders is the original equipment key account manager for the company’s industrial and earthmover product line. Camoplast Solideal Inc. expects the steady growth in the materials handling segment to continue throughout 2015 in Europe and in North America. “We’re seeing a defnite resurgence of diferent industries particularly in the manufacturing segments where they’ve been a litle dormant for a number of years. So we anticipate some growth across the board,” says Darren Straten, product manager for material handling. Some regions are growing more than others. “Obviously the Northeast and the Rust Belt are seeing a lot of their manufacturing coming back. We’re also seeing quite a signifcant amount of growth in the southern states,” says Straten. So what does a strengthening economy mean for forklif and material handling tires? MTD asked several manufacturers and distributors for their perspectives on technologies and products.
MTD: What are the technological or market trends in forklif and material handling tires? Besancon, Alliance: Tere are tens of thousands of forklifs running on smooth concrete foors in warehouses and on loading docks, but there are also many that are being used in equipment yards, outdoor environments, construction sites, and military bases. Material handling equipment regularly faces the same challenges. If you look at container terminals in ports, for instance, you can see the challenges that a container handling machine faces every day: steaming hot asphalt in many places, UV radiation all day long, shifing center of gravity, heavy loads, and 24-hour-a-day operation.
MTD April 2015
