Michelin investing in NI tyre plant

By Patrick Raleigh, ERJ On-line new editor

Belfast, Northern Ireland-Groupe Michelin is to carry out a £14.5-million (Euro22-million) upgrade of its truck and bus tyre plant manufacturing facility in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, Invest Northern Ireland has announced.

The government agency is contributing £2.7 million in Selective Financial Assistance to the project, which will help to underpin the future of the 1200-employee plant, according to an Invest NI statement. The facility has a capacity of 950 000 tyres/year, according to ERJ's 2003 Global Tyre Report.

The investment will principally go towards the introduction of new technology at the plant. This will “substantially increase the capability, productivity and efficiency of what is currently the largest truck and bus tyre plant in the UK,” said a 4 Aug Invest NI statement.

“This investment, which could have gone to a number of Michelin plants in Europe, represents a vote of confidence in Northern Ireland by a major global player,” said Barry Gardiner MP, Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister,

“Michelin Tyre has been a key investor in Northern Ireland for 35 years and has invested substantially in training. The result is a highly skilled workforce with the ability to embrace change and innovation,” Gardiner added in press statement.