Clif Armstrong to replace Bill Sweatman as CEO at Marangoni Tread North America

MADISON, Tenn.—Bill Sweatman will end his 16-year tenure as president and CEO of Marangoni Tread North America on May 1, when he officially retires from the company.

Industry veteran Clif Armstrong, who has more than 35 years of experience in various roles, will succeed Sweatman as Marangoni president and CEO. Armstrong has served as vice president, business development for MTNA since September 2017.

Sweatman joined Marangoni 18 years ago. Jack Woodland founded the company in Walnut Creek, Calif., in 1998.

In 2002, the firm moved to Madison and began producing the Ringtread, Marangoni's flagship product, a double-contoured circular tread that needs no splicing, like other precured retreads used in commercial truck and tire retreading.

Sweatman built the company into a national-recognized brand, with 5 percent share of the U.S. market, according to MTNA.

"I started in the tire industry in 1977 and the retreading industry in 1984," Sweatman said. "The industry has been very good for me and my family, and I would like to thank the employers, peers, customers, suppliers and friends for this experience, and I wish all well."

Armstrong served in various executive management roles throughout his career, including sales, marketing, operations and company-owned commercial store networks at Pirelli Tire L.L.C./TP Commercial Tire and Continental Tire the Americas.

Armstrong said he began to appreciate the Ringtread product several years ago while working for another company.

"I came away from that experience in awe of the Ringtread concept and its performance achievements," Armstrong said. "It truly is different and better. I am excited about this opportunity to lead this great organization."

Eighteen months ago, MTNA announced it was expanding its tread rubber capacity at its Madison plant. The expansion includes adding capacity to produce the XP Extreme Performance Ringtread treads for wide-base single truck tires.

According to the initial timeline of the expansion, a new production line is to be operational in the second quarter of this year, producing spliceless Ringtreads up to and including 500mm widths.

Marangoni offers four products for the wide-base sector: RDA-One and RTA-One for long-haul applications; RZ12 for regional applications; and RSSY3 for on-/off-road applications.

Marangoni opened the Madison plant in 2004 and has expanded it a number of times since, including a $10 million project in 2012.

Marangoni Tread N.A. is a subsidiary of Rovereto, Italy-based Marangoni S.p.A., which recently disclosed plans for a global partnership with Borrachas Vipal S.A. of Brazil in what Marangoni said could become the largest global independent player in the retreading sector.