Michelin S.C. expansion now on stream

ERJ staff report (TB)

Lexington, South Carolina --- Michelin North America Inc. (MNA) has inaugurated production on the expanded manufacturing line at its Lexington passenger and light truck tyre plant, 17 months after announcing the $200 million investment.

The expansion project will create 270 jobs once production has ramped up, Michelin said. Employment will rise above 1,700 with the new jobs, according to published data on the plant.

Michelin did not comment on the project's impact on the plant's capacity, which is listed as 25,000 units a day. When the company announced the investment in May 2011, it said the project would focus on creating capacity at the 1.2 million-sq.-ft. plant for larger diameter performance tyres for SUVs and crossovers.

The first tyre produced on the expanded line - a P275/55 R20 LTX M/S 2 - came off the line shortly after noon today, Michelin said.

"This investment allows us to meet increasing market demands for Michelin tyres," said Peter Sutton, Lexington site manager for MNA.

The project employs the latest technologies, making the new tyre production line among the most advanced in the world, Michelin said without releasing details of which technology or technologies are being used.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)