Toyo US Capacity Expansion May Get Underway in Summer

Following the 2009 completion of an expansion project that doubled Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing’s White, Georgia facility’s physical size to approximately 160,000 square metres, the plant is operating at an annual capacity of 2.5 million tyres. However Toyo says that plans are already in place to install new machinery and expand production capabilities as early as this summer. Output is projected to reach four million tyres by 2012, and Toyo has indicated it will increase the plant’s workforce to accommodate this higher level of production.

“North America continues to be the most important market for both the Toyo Tires and Nitto brands,” said Kenji Nakakura, president and CEO of parent company Toyo Tire & Rubber. “Our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, strategically located in the United States, benefits both dealers and consumers by delivering our premium tyres faster while reducing overall costs. I can confidently say, as a company we will continue to invest in the United States.”

The White factory, where the Toyo and Nitto brands are manufactured, recently produced its five-millionth tyre. The facility opened in December 2005 and utilises a highly automated tyre production system known as ‘Advanced Tire Operation Module’ (A.T.O.M.). The system is designed for multi-product, small-lot production with reduced lead times, and the tyre maker says A.T.O.M. delivers highly consistent, highly uniform tyres. Products currently manufactured there include the Proxes ST II, Open Country M/T, Open Country A/T, T Proxes 4, Nitto Grappler, Nitto NT 420S and Nitto NT 555.

“We are proud to have achieved this historic milestone in our company,” commented Jim Hawk, president and CEO, Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing, regarding the production of tyre number five million. “It is with great thanks to the dedicated employees of this company, and to the support we receive from the State of Georgia.”