Herbert, Barron Benson form JV

CLEVELAND (Oct. 15)—German tire machinery and mold maker Herbert Maschinenbau GmbH and U.S. mold maker Barron Benson Inc. have created a joint venture that will become Herbert's first North American manufacturing site. The venture, Herbert-Barron Benson, will use the Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio-based company's mold plant for at least the short term, according to Martin Grosch, sales manager for Herbert, which makes tire building and curing equipment and tire molds at its headquarters plant in Huenfeld, Germany. The new venture will focus initially on tire molds, said Randal S. Jarvis, general manager of Barron Benson, with Herbert transferring its direct-milling technology to the venture, majority owned by the German company. The partners eventually plan to handle Herbert's full line at either an enlarged plant or a new facility.