On November 18, 2024, David Stevens, Managing Director of the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB), visited long-time TRIB member Central Marketing at its headquarters in Richmond, Virginia.

Founded in 1986 by Edd Burleson, Central Marketing was established with a clear mission: to help modernize the tire retreading industry through the introduction of automation and computer-controlled machinery. At a time when the industry relied heavily on manual processes, Burleson’s vision focused on improving efficiency, consistency, and overall product quality through technological advancement.

To realize this vision, Burleson cultivated relationships with leading European manufacturers, attending international trade shows and forming strategic partnerships that enabled Central Marketing to bring advanced retreading equipment to the North American market. A key milestone in the company’s history was the successful introduction of a fully automated buffer—an innovation that significantly enhanced operational efficiency and helped drive broader adoption of automated systems across the industry. Today, automated equipment has become standard in the vast majority of retread facilities.

To read the full article on the TRIB website, please follow the link below.