Published: 2/22/2018

Tire Technology International named Smithers its Tire Industry Supplier of the Year as part of the Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence 2018.

The award was presented during the Tire Technology Expo in Hannover, Germany, in February.

“Smithers is honored to receive this award. We are driven by our commitment to being the best global partner for our clients,” said Nat Leonard, President of Smithers, who received the award on behalf of the company. “Each of our investments was made to offer additional technical depth along every part of the tire development cycle, as well as geographic breadth to our global clients allowing us to provide the highest level of support for their tire development efforts.”

Smithers made multiple significant investments in its tire industry service offerings in 2017, all of which were recognized at the ceremony:

• Upgrades to analytical chemistry offerings in Akron, Ohio.
• 35% increase in testing capacity in Suzhou, China.
• A partnership with global tire manufacturers to expand the Tire and Wheel Test Center in Ravenna, Ohio.
• A new event center and track surfaces at the Smithers Winter Test Center in Brimley, Michigan.

"Few companies have packed as much into the past 12 months as Smithers,” said Graham Heeps, editor, Tire Technology International and chairman of the judging panel. “These new developments reconfirm a place at the forefront of the industry for one of the oldest names in tire and rubber testing."

The Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence, founded in 2008, reward the smart thinking and hard work of the tire design and manufacturing industry. The shortlist is compiled from nominations received from the readers of Tire Technology International, with the input of the magazine's editorial team. It is then sent to an independent panel of international tire industry experts for them to cast their votes and determine the winners.