Warren City Council members are being asked by the company to abandon an unopened street that extends from the old Route 6 right of way along the southeast line of the Warren company’s property. Superior Tire & Rubber Corp.owns all the property adjacent to the unopened road, Randy Rossey, city codes officer, told council members, and ends at the Superior Tire property.

“Therefore it would not compromise potential traffic flow,” Rossey said. “Superior indicated that it intends to construct a new facility that will allow the company to expand its production capabilities.”

The next step in the street abandonment will be a public hearing to be held before the City Council’s May 19 meeting. There was no further discussion on the street abandonment proposal during the council’s April meeting, though Mayor David Wortman said the proposal is good news.

“I think it’s a great issue to be bringing up at the council,” Wortman said. “It’s always good to hear of companies that are considering expansion.”

Chris Weikert of Superior Tire is pictured accepting his award for Best Technical Poster from the Polyurethane Manufacturers Association.

As Superior Tire & Rubber Corp. considers expansion, two members of its engineering team have been recognized at the 2025 Polyurethane Manufacturers Association annual meeting and conference held recently in Sandestin, Fla., earning both the Best Technical Paper and Best Technical Poster awards.

The Polyurethane Manufacturers Association, founded in 1971, is an industry organization dedicated exclusively to cast urethane elastomers. It connects manufacturers, processors and suppliers with the latest innovations, best safety practices, and business opportunities, while promoting cast polyurethane’s advantages over rubber, plastic, and metal. Its annual conference brings together industry professionals from around the world to share technical advancements, research, and insights.

Elizabeth Whiteford, process engineer at Superior Tire & Rubber Corp., received the Best Technical Paper award for her presentation titled “Exploring the Practical Uses of XRF Spectroscopy in Manufacturing.” Due to the interest in her work, she was invited to present the paper again via webinar, allowing the findings to reach a broader industry audience.

Meanwhile, Chris Weikert, process engineering manager, earned the Best Technical Poster award for his research on “Impact of Varying Ratios on Material with Reduced Isocyanate Content due to Prolonged Thermal Exposure.”

These awards were determined by votes from PMA member companies and underscore the strength of Superior Tire & Rubber Corp.\’s engineering efforts, even among a field that included large multinational chemical and manufacturing firms.

Elizabeth Whiteford is pictured receiving her award for Best Technical Paper from the Polyurethane Manufacturers Association.

“It’s exciting to see our company, based in Warren, being recognized again for technical excellence on a stage with global corporations,” said Dr. Joe Peterson, Superior Tire & Rubber Corp. executive vice president of operations. “I’m proud to have Elizabeth and Chris representing Superior’s commitment to engineering and innovation.”