9 Jan 2013
ERJ staff report (BC)
Charles City, Iowa - Mitas Tires North America Inc. rung in the new year by instituting around-the-clock production at its agricultural tire factory in Charles City, reports our sister publication Tire Business.
The company, a unit of Czech tire maker Mitas a.s., said the boost in production follows installation of new machinery - six additional curing presses and eight tire-building machines.
The factory is running two 12-hour shifts a day, seven days a week; each shift averages 40 hours a week. The factory now employs 179, according to Mitas.
By the end of 2013, the tire maker expects to increase employment at the plant to 237, with a production capacity of 13,500 metric tons a year. The total investment will be $52 million and the full production capacity will be reached three years earlier than originally planned, the company said.
Since April 2012, when Mitas started its tire production in Charles City, 1,700 metric tons of tires have been produced and sold to customers, mainly in North America.
Mitas manufactures and sells tires under the Mitas and Cultor brand names and produces Continental farm tires under license.
In October the company reported it had shipped the 100th truckload of radial farm tires made at the Charles City plant.
Subscribe for unlimited access. A subscription to European Rubber Journal includes:
Already a subscriber? Log in here
