Company Profile - Cooper Tires!
As the official tire for Global RallyCross, we thought you would enjoy this little read on just who Cooper Tire is & how they are a player in the Motorsports scene.
History
The company's U.S. history dates back to 1914, when brothers-in-law John F. Schaefer and Claude E. Hart purchased M and M Manufacturing Company in Akron, Ohio, producing tire patches, tire cement and tire repair kits.
In 1915, Schaefer and Hart purchased The Giant Tire & Rubber Company of Akron, a tire rebuilding business, and two years later moved the business to Findlay, Ohio.
The firm changed its name to Cooper Tire & Rubber Company in 1946 and by July 11, 1960, the company became a publicly held corporation and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The Cooper name has a proud and storied heritage that goes back nearly a century to 1914, when brothers-in-law John F. Schaefer and Claude E. Hart purchased M and M Manufacturing Company in Akron, producing tire patches, tire cement and tire repair kits. A year later, Schaefer and Hart purchased The Giant Tire & Rubber Company of Akron, a tire rebuilding business, and two years later moved the business to Findlay, Ohio..
The company grew in subsequent years through mergers, acquisitions and expanding sales. During World War II, the company demonstrated its flexibility and patriotism by converting its “hard goods” department to wartime production.
The firm changed its name to Cooper Tire & Rubber Company in 1946 and by July 11, 1960, the company became a publicly held corporation and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Throughout the next five decades, the company expanded its products, manufacturing plants, distribution system and marketplace. The company joined the ranks of Fortune 500 companies in 1983 as one of the largest industrial companies in the United States. Net sales reached $1 billion in 1991.
By 1999, Cooper had 50 manufacturing facilities in nine countries. Much of the company’s growth came through the acquisition of The Standard Products Company, a move that added 10,000 employees to its payroll.
With the purchase of the highly regarded Avon Tyres Limited, based in Melksham, England, in 1997 and the acquisition of Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels in 2003, Cooper positioned itself as a preeminent producer of high-performance and ultra-high performance tires.
In a December 2003 agreement, Cooper entered a joint venture with Kenda Rubber Industrial Company Ltd. for construction of a plant outside Shanghai, China, to produce radial passenger and light truck tires. Then, returning the company to its core business of tire manufacturing, in December 2004, Cooper completed the sale of its automotive business, Cooper-Standard Automotive, for approximately $1.165 billion. The sale included the 47 manufacturing facilities and operations of Cooper-Standard Automotive, which is a global manufacturer of fluid handling systems, body-sealing systems, and active and passive vibration control systems, primarily for automotive original equipment manufacturers.
The sale in turn provided new opportunities for growth. In January 2005, Cooper announced an agreement to buy 11% interest in Kumho Tire. That month, the company also announced it was forming a new commercial division encompassing both Oliver Rubber Company and commercial tires. In October 2005, the company announced an agreement to obtain 51% ownership in China’s third largest tire manufacturer, Cooper Chengshan (Shandong) Passenger Tire Company Ltd. and Cooper Chengshan (Shandong) Truck Tire Company Ltd. To complement the company’s well-established European operations and product offerings, in January 2012, Cooper acquired the assets of an existing tire plant in Krusevac, Serb ia, providing an excellent location to supply tires to the European and Russian markets.
Today Cooper Tire & Rubber Company and its family of companies is truly global, boasting more than 65 manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities located around the world. But the company is hardly resting on past success. Cooper continues to improve plant efficiencies while capitalizing on its strong customer service and dealer relationships in North America; expanding its distribution network in Europe; and marketing Cooper Tires as a top brand in China. New products are driving increased sales and creating additional opportunity and growth potential.
This is an exciting time for Cooper as it continues to study opportunities in rapidly developing regions of the world. Continued change is inevitable for Cooper. One thing that won’t change, however, is the company’s focus on delighting customers and increasing shareholder value.
Brands
Cooper, Mastercraft, Dean, Starfire, Roadmaster, Avon Tyres, Mickey Thompson, Dick Cepek, Chenshan, Austone, Fortune and Mentor.
Parent Company
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, Findlay, Ohio
Roy Armes, Chairman, CEO and President
Company Financials
In 2012, Cooper reported revenues of $4.2 billion.
Company Background
Primary focus is passenger car and light vehicle replacement tires in North America
The 11th largest global tire manufacturer
The fourth largest tire manufacturer in the U.S.
Market share in the U.S. is 14 percent in the light vehicle replacement market
The seventh largest truck and bus radial tire manufacturer in China
Our Business
As a leading global competitor in the tire industry, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, together with its affiliates, subsidiaries and joint ventures has manufacturing facilities on three continents, sales and distribution networks around the world and products that meet and exceed the demands of the world's most dynamic markets. The Cooper family of companies has millions of Cooper produced tires on vehicles around the world, making our products an important difference to the quality of people’s everyday lives.
North America
Technical Center
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
701 Lima Ave
Findlay, OH 45840
419-423-1321
Test Facility
Cooper Tire & Vehicle Test Center
3303 North I-35
Pearsall, TX 78061
888-931-9128
www.tvtc.us
RACING
Racing in Less Than 60 Seconds
As long as there has been something to drive, people have had the desire to race.
Racing is fueled from an internal passion. Racing is a great example of the desire to compete against others as a driver, to be the best no matter what they are racing. To be the first one across the finish line every time. Very few realize the dream as a professional race car driver but multitude of people get into racing every day. Racing just doesn't consist of professional drivers but people from all walks of life.
As with many different types of sports, there are levels of progression to build and test your talents. NASCAR® has their regional series', which progresses onto ARCA, then to the Nationwide Series and then to the Sprint Cup Series. In the Open wheel ladder system, drivers generally start out in Shifter Karts or Skip Barber, and progress to USF2000 Championship Series then to the Pro Mazda Championship, followed by the Indy Lights and then to IndyCar. Cooper Tire supports several racing series and types of racing for every interest.
There are also areas for those who want to make racing their hobby. NASA Racing or SCCA® Racing are two great examples of organized racing series that can challenge pro drivers as well as weekend warriors. Whatever path a driver chooses, their success relies on their goals, desire and budget.
The drive to go faster, handle better and win is all in a driver’s DNA. As long as there are cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles…anything with wheels, people will compete to win.
NASCAR® the NASCAR logo are registered trademarks of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ word mark and logo are trademarks of NASCAR, Inc. and Sprint. ©2012 Sprint. Sprint and the logo are trademarks of Sprint.
2012 INDYCAR® ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF BRICKYARD TRADEMARKS, INC.
