GPX International Tire Corp. has acquired the Hebei Starbright tire factory in China. The addition gives GPX wholly owned factories on three continents: North America, Europe and Asia.
The facility will accommodate an increasing demand for GPX product, and allow the company to gain an international footprint in Asia. "The Hebei facility will help GPX improve fill rates, which, in turn, allows us to increase global customer satisfaction," says Bob Sherkin, chairman and co-CEO of GPX.
Bryan Ganz, president and co-CEO, says owning the Starbright tire factory "significantly expands GPX's presence in the Asian market and allows us to directly service our growing international markets."
In conjunction with the addition of Starbright, GPX hired Phil FitzGerald as the managing director of the Hebei Starbright factory. He will be responsible for plant modernization and refurbishment, with the goal of transforming the Starbright factory into a world-class production facility focused on the manufacture of "work tires" used in a variety of industries including agricultural, construction, materials handling and transportation.
FitzGerald has more than 25 years of experience working in complex international manufacturing environments. His vast experience in the tire industry was gained through 18 years with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Bridgestone/Firestone. He "truly understands what it takes to transform an average factory into a world-class facility," adds Ganz.
