GREENVILLE, S.C — Celebrating a half-century of excellence in manufacturing at the Asheboro, N.C., facility, Oliver Rubber, Inc. — a provider of products and services in the tire-retreading industry — marked the milestone by inviting employees and their families, community leaders and special guests to the plant for a day of music, food, fun and camaraderie.
"For 50 years, the Asheboro facility has manufactured Oliver Rubber's innovative and quality tread rubber products providing customers with high-value mobility solutions," said Ralph Dimenna, chief operating officer for Michelin Americas Truck Tires. "But we want to celebrate the people behind these products. Their vision and dedication has contributed to this facility's longevity and success. We are proud that Oliver's Asheboro team is part of the Michelin family."
Oliver Rubber executives at the 50th Anniversary Celebration: John Revell, Oliver Rubber plant manager, Philippe Sebaux, director of industry for Michelin Americas Truck Tires, Welta Harrelson and Mark Harrelson, family members of founder Harrelson Rubber, and Ralph Dimenna, chief operating officer of Michelin Americas Truck Tires.Originally built in 1965 by the Harrelson Rubber Company, the Asheboro facility formally opened in 1966. From its inception, the facility was known for producing quality retread products. Harrelson Rubber was purchased in 1982 by Oliver to manufacture its products. After a $2.5 million modernization upgrade, the plant could produce twice the amount of retread rubber. The machinery and equipment for applying pre-cure retreads to truck tires is made by Asheboro's sister facility in Salisbury, N.C. Oliver's innovations have included pre-cure technology patents in the 1960s and state-of-the-art presses in the 1970s. Since 1990, Oliver has been awarded more than 20 patents for its development of pre-cure retreading equipment, compounds and tread designs. Oliver was acquired in 2007 by Michelin North America and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary.