Michelin 'laying groundwork' to improve Indiana tyre plant

ERJ staff report (TB)

Greenville, South Carolina - A United Steelworkers (USW) local president told The News Sentinel of Fort Wayne, Ind., that Michelin North America Inc. is adding employees and updating equipment at its BFGoodrich plant in Woodburn, Ind., as part of a $77 million modernisation investment.

Local 715 President Jim Wetzel is quoted in the report as saying the plant has added 50 to 60 people in the last three or four months and now employs 1,400. He also said some equipment was being replaced.

According to The News Sentinel, the tyre maker has filed papers with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to install in the Woodburn plant a tread/sidewall extruder, four bead extruders and 10 curing presses, as well as modify existing curing presses to accommodate larger tyres.

A Michelin spokeswoman wouldn't confirm the $77 million investment but told Tire Business that the Greenville-based tyre maker is “laying the groundwork for making improvements to the plant, but at this point no final decisions have been made on exactly what those improvements will be.”

She added: “We appreciate the support we receive from Fort Wayne, Allen County and the state of Indiana. Michelin is constantly analysing the competitive North American environment. When deciding on possible future investments, state and local incentives are a strong plus.”

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)