Michelin invests in Ballymena truck tyre plant

ERJ staff report (DS)

Ballymena, Northern Ireland -- A UK minister has announced a £14million investment at Michelin in Ballymena in Northern Ireland. Michelin had no comment to make on the announcement.

In a statement, the UK government said, "The investment in machinery and equipment comprises 11 separate projects and involves installation of the latest automated production lines. Staff will be specially trained in the use of the new equipment in order to maximise product quality. Employees will also receive training in quality control and problem solving, whilst managers will learn more about performance management, coaching and leadership."

The Ballymena plant makes truck tyres, mostly for export to North America. This is the first announcement of investment in the plant since Michelin announced its Michelin Durable Technologies system, with an associated Euro 500 million in spend. Michelin did not say if this latest investment was part of that.

Speaking at the plant, Economy Minister Nigel Dodds said, "The investment will enable Michelin to maximise production efficiency through the introduction of state of the art manufacturing equipment alongside a targeted training programme for all staff." He continued, "“With this significant investment, backed by Invest Northern Ireland, Michelin will place itself at the forefront of the market by making use of the latest technology and complementing this with tailored training right across its workforce."

The total investment will be £13.778 million (Euro 17.24 million), of which the local government will contribute £2.64 million ( Euro3.3 million)

Michelin's Ballymena plant was built in 1969. The factory provides employment for some 1,100 people and has a daily production capacity of around 4,000 truck tyres. It forms part of Michelin Tyre plc, which comprises the UK operations of the Michelin Group.

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Press release from Northern Ireland Executive