Japan’s Toyo Tire (Toyo) is to again expand its 13-year-old North American tyre plant in rural Bartow County, Georgia. The company will invest some US$65 million for the project, which will involve installing new manufacturing equipment to boost the annual production capacity of passenger and light truck tyres by nearly 10%, to 13.9 million by January 2021.
Toyo previously spent US$125 million to add a 254,000-sq.-ft. production hall to its largest international factory, and the latest expansion to that same hall will create another 120 jobs by 2021 when production is expected to start. The factory employs Toyo’s proprietary Advanced Tire Operation Module automated manufacturing system, and produces its 50 millionth tyre in January 2019.
According to the company, the expansion will support its already substantial capacity for the larger rim-diameter tyres that are in high demand in the North American market for pickup trucks and larger SUVs, and further optimises their product mix “to reinforce the strength of the Toyo brand and build an efficient supply system.”