Seventy-five years ago in a barn behind his central Ohio home, Charles Cornell invented a rubber vulcanizing process that he used to develop repairs for tires and inner tubes in hot or cold applications. The invention, which Cornell named the “2-Way” repair, launched Tech International.
Today the company makes and distributes more than 10,000 tire repair, wheel service and industrial rubber products to customers in 95 countries, and its founder has been named to the 2014 Tire Industry Association Hall of Fame.
On Sept. 12, the third and fourth generation family leadership of Tech International looked back at 75 years of innovation in a ceremony at the company’s new training facility located less than a mile from its headquarters in Johnstown, Ohio.
Construction of the 15,000-square-foot facility was completed in the spring of 2014. The building has Wi-Fi throughout and state-of-the-art pneumatics for air tools, according to Dan Layne, president. The company invites customers from around the world to Johnstown for training specific to its products. The new building replaces one dating from the 1950s.
The “tech” in Tech International stands for “teach each customer how,” says Layne. The company’s training seminars in passenger and commercial tire repair and tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) service fulfill Tire Industry Association (TIA) certification requirements. In fact, Tech International helped TIA develop its training modules, according to Layne. The company also offers off-the-road tire section repair and sales training for technicians and distributors.
Customers from around the world are invited to Tech International for product-specific training. “Tech’s unique proposition is the training we offer, and we think it’s most important customers be trained to service tires,” says Layne. Tech also staffs in-house product experts who serve as resources to customers.
The company constantly introduces new products, according to Layne. “Part of our strategy is to make products in the region where we sell the products. That keeps us close to our customers.” In addition to Johnstown, the company operates production facilities in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, and Shanghai, China.
To mark its anniversary, Tech commissioned artwork to serve as a visual commemoration of its people, legacy and products over the last 75 years. Layne unveiled the collage of photos, newspaper articles and mementos at the anniversary celebration, saying, “To see Tech’s history and accomplishments together in this art piece clearly demonstrates that our growth and longevity is a result of innovation; not only in our tire repair products but also through discovering new ways to leverage our intelligence.
“That pioneering mind set is what will pave the way for a successful future at Tech, as we use our core competencies in repairing, recycling, repurposing and reusing to find new ways to improve and grow our product offerings. With this in mind, we look forward to seeing Tech celebrate many milestones like we are today.”
