Highlights of the event included an outlook on the OTR tire market for 2011, including industry numbers, from Michelin North America’s Bruce Besancon.
While he predicted some growth in the economy, he cautioned attendees to expect another tough year in the housing market with more price increases to offset skyrocketing natural rubber prices.
Bridgestone’s Shawn Rasey gave a keynote address that emphasized the constant changes that attendees can expect given the current state of the industry; senior executives from Bridgestone, Michelin, Techking, Titan and Yokohama answered questions from the audience in the OTR Tire Manufacturers Panel.
Attendees also heard from six of the largest retreaders in North America, who provided them with a brief look at their companies and how they are using technology to produce the highest-quality OTR retreads in history.
Harvey Buhr of Hitech demonstrated how his eco-friendly pyrolysis process can turn scrap OTR tires into usable products and energy such as carbon, oil, gas and steel.
Motivational speaker Don Yaeger wrapped up the conference with an inspirational speech on the consistent characteristics of greatness that he has developed over the past few decades working with the greatest sports legends of our time, including Warrick Dunn, John Wooden, Michael Jordan and Walter Payton.
“With 443 attendees from 16 countries and 36 states in attendance, in addition to sessions led by the top experts in the OTR tire sector, it’s quickly becoming apparent that the TIA OTR Conference is the ‘go to’ OTR tire event in the world,” according to Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield, who notes that this was the 56th year of the conference, “and it’s abundantly clear that each year just keeps getting better and better.”
Next year’s OTR Conference will take place Feb. 15-18 at the Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
For more information, visit www.tireindustry.org.
