Mitas plans agricultural tyre plant in Czech Republic

ERJ staff report (PRW)

Zlin, Czech Republic -- Heavy duty tyre manufacturer Mitas is to invest almost euro 40.5m to construct a new plant to produce tyres for agricultural vehicles in Holesov in the Czech Republic. The announcement follows a few weeks behind the decision by Mitas parent, CGS, to build an agricultural tyre plant in Iowa.

The new facility, due to create 550 new jobs, will be located on a 5.6 hectare site in Holesov's strategic industrial zone where it will manufacture tyres mainly for tractors and other farm vehicles.

Prague-based Mitas, part of the CGS Tyres group which specialises in exporting off-road vehicle tyres, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the authorities in the Czech region of Zlin and plans to begin construction in 2011. The new plant should be fully operating in 2014, according to the company.

In the project's initial stage, Mitas intends to build a 21,000 square metre production hall. The plant will also eventually include warehouses and administrative offices, said the Czech Republic's Investment and Industrial Development Agency Czechinvest.

Mitas also manufactures and distributes international heavy duty Continental, Semperit and Euzkadi brand tyres. It specialises in tyres for a range of construction vehicles, lorries, loaders, excavators, fork lift trucks, farm machinery and motorcycles.

Mitas selected the Holesov site partly because of its close proximity to two of the firm's other plants in Zlin and Otrokovice. It has other production units in Prague and in Ruma, Serbia.

The company, which employs a workforce of 2,250, recorded revenues in 2009 worth euro 263m.

From PRW (A Crain publication)

Press release from Czechinvest

Press release from Mitas (Czech language)