Michelin North America reported two new projects at its site in Michelin Pictou County. Operations on a new Michelin winter tyre line, as well as the North American launch of an innovative process for semi-finished materials, is set to begin soon.
These projects are valued at US$9 million and US$12 million respectively, and will open up 150 new positions at the Michelin Pictou County site, and will make permanent 200 temporary positions that were previously supposed to end in 2020.
“This is amazing news for Michelin in Nova Scotia, as these two projects push Michelin’s employment in Nova Scotia to more than 3,600, the highest levels seen in our almost 50-year history,” said Jeff MacLean, President, Michelin North America (Canada) Inc.
“This is a testament to the dedication of our employees, the support of our community and government partners, and our continued ability to deliver top-quality products for the North American marketplace.”
Following the site’s successful production of Michelin Latitude X-Ice XI2 winter tyres for Canadian and US markets, the Michelin Pictou County site will soon begin building a new Michelin winter tyre for the North American market. This currently unnamed new tyre will start production in the fall of 2019 and will be on the market in 2020.
Improving its market competitiveness is key to Michelin’s long-term success in Nova Scotia. In line with this goal, Michelin will install an innovative semi-finished manufacturing process at the Pictou County site.
“New to North America, this innovative process allows us to produce semi-finished materials needed for tyre-building right here at home,” said MacLean.
“These investments allow us to remain competitive in the marketplace, while continuing to build our future here in Nova Scotia.”
The US$12 million project will include state-of-the art equipment, building renovations and new storage facilities at the site. This project will be set up over 2019 and 2020, and will add 20 new employees to the site. These semi-finished products will be used in several North American Michelin sites. Hiring for this project will begin in mid-2019.
“This project reinforces the strength and technical capability of the Michelin Nova Scotia team,” said Stephen McNeil, Premier of Nova Scotia.
“We are also pleased that a Nova Scotia location has been chosen to be the first in North America for this innovative work with semi-finished materials. Michelin has been a very important part of our economy for several decades, and it’s wonderful to see this commitment to future growth and success in our province.”
The Province of Nova Scotia is supporting the project through the Nova Scotia Business Inc. Innovation Rebate Program, which will contribute US$3.56 million, and the Department of Labour and Advanced Education for support with training some of the new employees for the projects.
Michelin has had a presence manufacturing in Nova Scotia for almost 50 years. With these two new projects, the Michelin Pictou County site will grow to 820 positions. The Michelin Pictou County site, opened in 1971 as home to Groupe Michelin’s second-largest rubber-mixing operation, produces passenger-car and light-truck tyres, curing membranes, and also houses the Company’s Canadian corporate offices.