RMA Announces Name Change

For the first time in its 102 year history, the national association for U.S. tire manufacturers has tires in its name.

The Washington, D.C.-based Rubber Manufacturers Association officially changed its name to May 23 to the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA).

The new name better reflects the association’s role as the leading group representing tire manufacturers that produce tires in the U.S., USTMS President Anne Forristall Luke said.

“It says who we are, what we do and what we stand for,” Luke said.

As the USTMA, the U.S. tire manufacturing industry will continue its significant contribution to the U.S. economy, job creation and engineering safe, sustainable tires.

“Our mobile society depends on tires from the safety of our families on the road to the tire industry’s significant contribution to our nation’s economy. As part of our continued commitment to share the important role the tire industry plays in out country, we are elated to announce our rebranding and re-launch as the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association,” Luke said.

In addition to its new name, USTMA unveiled a new logo and newly designed and rebranded website, www.ustires.org.

The association also released new economic figures detailing the U.S. tire industry and a video telling the story of the industry through the words of industry leaders. The USTMA will have also new social media channels through Facebook and Twitter, Luke said.

This has been a significant undertaking – one the association has been working on for several months, she said. Its more than a name change or new logo. Its about erecting a strategic communication platform for telling our story and what we stand for, Luke said.

USTMA member companies are constantly in pursuit of making safer and more sustainable tires through technology and innovation. In addition, the U.S. tire manufacturing industry generates $148.4 billion annually and bolsters the U.S. economy with more than 737,000 jobs within the U.S.

The U.S. tire manufacturing industry directly supports more than 284,000 U.S. jobs through manufacturing, distribution and retailing and is responsible for more than 450,000 additional U.S. jobs in supplies and ancillary activities, the USTMA said.

Tire manufacturing in the United States is growing. From eight member companies in January 2016 when Forristall Luke joined RMA to 10 USTMA member companies today with projections for 12 to 13 total members within the next few years.

© Scrap Tire News, June 2017