Everything you want to know about OTR tires

Feb. 18, 2014

Registration for the 2014 Off-the-Road Tire Conference aleady has set a record -- and it doesn't start until Feb. 19! The four-day conference, sponsored by the Tire Industry Association (TIA), will be held at the Marco Island Marriott Resort & Golf Club in Naples, Fla.

The schedule is packed on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Modern Tire Dealer Editor Bob Ulrich will be on hand to report the goings-on, but here is a sneak peek at what you can expect to read about.

Wednesday, Feb. 19

Environmental Session: "The Evolution of OTR Recycling" by Julie Prochello, president of Eagle International LLC. OTR specialists will take attendees through the sourcing, transportation, processing and equipment selection details they need to ensure the challenges of handling OTR tires don’t surpass the recycling value of their rubber and steel.

Legislative Update: "Legislative Changes in 2014" by Roy Littlefield, executive vice president of TIA. From the Federal Aid Highway Bill to the estate tax, Littlefield will discuss how these issues and others could impact the tire industry. He will also outline TIA’s legislative priorities for the upcoming year.

Thursday, Feb. 20

Tire Manufacturers Panel: Rajiv Poddar, executive director, Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT); Barry Rexroad, director of planning and strategic accounts, Bridgestone Commercial Solutions (a business unit of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC); Aaron Murphy, vice president of China Manufacturers Alliance LLC (the American subsidiary of Double Coin Holdings Ltd.); Andrew Meurer, vice president of earthmover sales and marketing, Michelin North America Inc.; and Mike Baggett, national OTR sales manager, Yokohama Tire Corp., will provide insight on how their projections for the upcoming year will affect the supply of different types of tires. They also will update conference attendees on any new sizes and/or tread designs that will become available so dealers and retreaders can be prepared to meet the needs of their customers. Ulrich is the moderator.

Repair Panel: The results of repairing non-repairable injuries will be discussed by Wayne Jackson, international sales manager, International Tire Repair Solutions Inc.; Gary Tatum, regional sales manager Patch Rubber Co.; Jeff Young, vice president of OTR and retreading products, Rema Tip Top North America Inc.; and Ron Reiring, OTR sales manager, Tech International. The panel of repair experts will examine different types of injuries that might appear to be repairable, but aren't because the hidden damage makes the risk too great. They also will provide tips for sales and service personnel to communicate the potential repairability of different types of injuries so the end user has realistic expectations for damaged tires. Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of training for TIA, is the moderator.

Friday, Feb. 21

Manufacturer Keynote Presentation: "Value in a Changing World" by Wade Gatlin, vice president of mining, Bridgestone Commercial Solutions. Gatlin will talk about how the mining and construction industries are fundamentally changing the way business is done. This change will require both tire dealers and manufacturers in the OTR tire industry to continue to evolve and focus on delivering not only a product to the industry but also higher value full service to customers with more advanced systems and different needs than ever before.

OTR TPMS Panel: Prospects for TPMS in OTR tires, including the value of TPMS for mining industries, will be discussed by Phillip Zaroor, CEO and president, Advantage Pressure Pro LLC; Grok Gates, product manager, Business Technology Group, Bridgestone Commercial Solutions; Lee Demis, national sales manager, Doran Manufacturing LLC; and Ross Edan, OTR manager, Schrader International Inc., OTR manager. Matt White, TIA director of tire service.

Retread Session: "Equipment Trends and Innovations in OTR Retreading Equipment" by Edward Burleson, president, Central Marketing Inc. This session will cover and review the equipment used in all steps of the retreading process from initial inspection to final inspection.

OTR Tire Service Session: "Hydraulic Jack and Equipment Lifting Safety" by Keith Jarman, president of AME International, and Rohlwing. According to data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the process of lifting and supporting equipment is the most hazardous in the OTR tire service industry. The consequences of improperly lifting and supporting all types of vehicles are often fatal, so technicians need to follow the proper procedures for jacking and blocking.

There also will be a daily safety tip by Tom Klinge, president of Klinge & Co. Pty Ltd., and breakout sessions on Thursday and Friday.

For more information on the OTR conference, check out these links:

"TRIB to exhibit at OTR conference."

"'Rookie' will speak at TIA's OTR conference."

"TIA to host fishing tournament at OTR conference."