Martin Wheel, a Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd. company, has officially opened its new 193,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in the Kent, Ohio, area, completing a project first announced nearly three years ago and significantly expanding the company’s production and warehousing capabilities.

Kenda executives, employees, customers, suppliers and government and community representatives gathered at the facility in Brimfield Township on July 23 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours of its manufacturing, painting, assembly and warehouse operations.

“The facility behind us represents a significant investment in our operation, our team members and our future,” said Jason Schiavoni, general manager of Martin Wheel.

More than 500 tons of steel and 8,300 cubic yards of concrete were used to build the facility, which includes 180,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space and 13,000 square feet of office space. Approximately 90 people work at the plant, including 70 employees in manufacturing and operations and 20 office and administrative employees.

MTD covered the project’s groundbreaking in November 2023, when Kenda announced plans for a roughly 200,000-square-foot plant that would combine manufacturing, assembly and office operations that had previously been spread across multiple buildings. The facility was originally expected to open in 2024.

Construction was completed on May 16, 2025, but converting the empty building into a working plant required Martin Wheel to relocate equipment, establish production areas and train employees while continuing to operate from its former facilities in Tallmadge, Ohio.

Inventory began moving into the new building shortly after construction was completed, followed by the office staff. The manufacturing transition accelerated in May 2026, and the plant’s full production team was operating by June 1. The final piece of equipment was moved into place July 8.

“What makes this plant especially effective is that so much of our operation now happens in one place,” said Schiavoni. “From production through quality, warehousing and shipping, each stage of the process is now connected under one roof.”

The plant includes six packing stations and 21 dock doors — 11 for shipping and 10 for receiving. Its layout is designed to create a more direct flow of materials through fabrication, painting, assembly, packaging and shipping.

The consolidation addresses limitations at Martin Wheel’s former Tallmadge operation, which had expanded into multiple sections over the years. Kenda Global President, CEO and Chairman Jimmy Yang said low ceilings, restricted loading-dock space and the building’s fragmented layout limited what the company could do.

The new facility gives employees more space, improves product flow and should help Martin Wheel maintain more consistent quality, according to Yang.

“Today represents far more than just the completion of a new building,” he said. “It represents confidence in the future, commitment to our customers and, most importantly, our belief in the people who will bring this facility to life every day.”

Production capacity increases

Martin Wheel previously manufactured approximately 4,000 wheels per day at its former operation, according to Yang. The new facility is producing about 6,000 wheels per day and mounting approximately 8,000 tire-and-wheel assemblies daily.

Yang said the assembly operation is running at roughly 60% of its potential capacity, giving Martin Wheel room to increase production by another 40% within the existing facility.

The plant’s business is divided approximately evenly between original equipment and aftermarket customers. Its products range from small implement tires and wheels to assemblies used on lawn and garden equipment, golf cars, hand trucks, utility equipment and other specialty applications.

Yang said the combination of higher capacity and improved efficiency will allow Martin Wheel to serve additional customers, offer more sizes and configurations and compete more effectively on price and service.

“The expectation is now they’ve got more capacity, so they can take on more customers and take on more business,” he said.

Plant employees demonstrated several of those improvements during tours following the grand opening.

The facility’s upgraded powder-coat paint line contains 884 feet of chain and can process up to approximately 900 to 1,000 pieces per hour. The line carries components through a five-stage washing and preparation system before painting and curing.

Martin Wheel’s rim warehouse capacity also has tripled from approximately 600 skid positions to 1,800. Warehouse employees said the additional space and more accessible layout have increased material-handling speed without requiring additional staffing.

Building on decades of growth

Joseph and Marie Levin established Martin Wheel in 1946, initially selling steel lawn mower wheels throughout the eastern United States. The company later expanded into industrial, lawn and garden, marine, trailer and other specialty products.

Kenda acquired Martin Wheel in 1999. Yang said the business was generating approximately $6 million in annual sales at the time and has grown nearly tenfold since the acquisition through the addition of employees, manufacturing space, products and customers.

Martin Wheel now represents approximately 15% of Kenda’s North American business, according to company officials. Yang said North America accounts for approximately 40% of Kenda’s global business.

Kenda’s broader specialty tire portfolio also has established a significant presence in the golf car market. Yang said the company supplies nearly 85% of the global golf car tire market, with many of those tires mounted on wheels produced at Kenda’s Ohio and Georgia operations.

The company’s investment in the new plant follows a broader growth strategy Yang discussed with MTD in 2024. At the time, he said Kenda was continuing to invest in its manufacturing operations, personnel and supply chain to support its North American customers.

The new campus covers approximately 28 acres and includes land that could accommodate another 400,000 square feet of building space. Yang said the current facility should support significant growth during the next several years, but additional space could eventually be needed if the business continues expanding. Kenda has not announced a formal second phase of construction.

“We named the company Kenda for the reason that the word Kenda in Mandarin means ‘never stop growing, always growing,’” said Yang. “Martin Wheel, as part of the Kenda family, is proud to keep growing.”