Wonderland Tire of Grand Rapids Michigan has completed the acquisition of Sumerel Tire Service, Inc., headquartered in Newport Kentucky.
Merger Culminates Long-Term Relationship
The newly merged company, which began operations on March 10, 2021, can now claim to be among the top 25 retreaders in the U.S., owning a total of four manufacturing facilities in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee including two of the largest AcuTread plants. Wonderland now has thirteen locations in six states with the capacity to produce over 137,000 retreads per year. The acquisition is the culmination of a long relationship between the two companies.
Jon Langerak, CEO of Wonderland Tire explained; “33 years ago, we met Bob Majewski, then employed with Hercules-Cedco when he sold us our first chamber. Our two companies have worked together for 24 years and have developed a close working partnership with similar goals, technologies, business processes, and most importantly, producing top quality remanufactured tyres to reduce fleet owner’s costs and increase customer satisfaction.”
In 1994, Majewski became part owner of Sumerel Tire, and in 1995 the trademark of AcuTread became official. Two years later Majewski and Tom Sumerel approached Wonderland about implementing the AcuTread process at their Grand Rapids location, which they did in 1998, replacing the Oliver Precure System.
In 2002 Bob Majewski, Henry Kamps, Earl Kamps, Jon Langerak, Dave Langerak and Terry Westhafer partnered to form the AcuTread Alliance Group. In 2014 the Kamps and Langeraks bought the AcuTread Process and trademark from Majewski and Westhafer.
Bob Majewski, CEO of Sumerel Tire said “This is more than just an ordinary business deal; this is a marriage of like-minded cultures and people who know each other and share in a common commitment to quality products, our customers, and employees. We manufacture and sell identical re-manufactured AcuTread tyres as well as the same new tyre brands, so this combination will provide increased scale and geographic reach in the competitive and continually evolving tyre market/industry. This consolidation was a natural step in our overall strategic plans for both companies. This acquisition will allow our experienced management team to stay in place, so our customers will continue to receive the same great service they have come to love and expect. No one will be leaving the Sumerel Team as we join the Wonderland Tire Family."
