Nokian ramping up production at US plant 

Nokia, Finland – Nokian Tyres plc is ramping up production at its manufacturing facility in Dayton, Ohio, to respond to rising demand for “premium tires” in North America. 

The Finnish tire maker said it launched its third production shift the week of 17 May and is adding a fourth shift in mid-July to bring output rate to 24/7.

Adding shifts, Nokian said 25 May, is on pace with the company’s plans to produce 1 million tires at the US production facility in 2021.

To achieve the extra shifts, Nokian said it nearly doubled the factory’s workforce in the first half of 2021; and is now employing 300 people at the plant. 

At full capacity – 4 million tires per year – the facility will employ 400 workers. 

Nokian Tyres started production at the Dayton factory in January 2020 and manufactures all-season and all-weather tires at the plant. 

The company aims to leverage the factory to reduce delivery lead times to North American customers and build tires tailored to the needs of drivers in the region.

“The expansion to third and fourth shifts will allow us to greatly increase our production capacity while gaining efficiencies from continuous operation,” says SVP, Supply Operations Adrian Kaczmarczyk.