Premium tyre manufacturer Nokian Tyres (Nokian) has recently inaugurated its Dayton, Tennessee, passenger/light truck tyre factory – the company’s third overall and first outside of Europe – some two years after breaking ground on the US$360 million project.The Dayton factory will facilitate Nokian’s ambitious growth strategy by doubling sales volume in North America and providing considerable career opportunities for residents of eastern Tennessee.
The 830,000-sq.-ft. Dayton factory is “one of the most advanced tyre production facilities in the industry” with state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment from renowned companies such as Comerio Ercole, HF Mixing Group, Herbert Maschinenbau, Steelastic and in-plant logistics from Cimcorp Oy.
At full capacity, about 400 employees will produce Nokian’s enTyre touring and WRG4 all-weather tyres which will see evaluation in Nokian facilities in Europe, to ensure their quality and consistency ahead of the plant’s being certified for commercial-scale production.
Nokian officials also stressed the new factory will operate under strict sustainability standards to minimise waste and emissions, including solar panels capable of generating electricity installed in the parking lot and the recycling of excess materials from production.
According to Nokian Tyres CEO, Hille Korhonen, theplant will provide Tennesseans with a “premium work environment with Scandinavian values and ‘Hakkapeliitta’ battle spirit”, in addition to a “Road to Sustainable Success” initiative that will support efforts to foster education in the region and reward students who achieve academic success.