Aircraft Tyre Retreading Added to Michelin Norwood Operations

The retreading of aircraft tyres is scheduled to commence at Michelin North America’s Norwood, North Carolina plant during the second half of the year. The addition of a retreading capability to the Norwood site, which currently employs 320 people in the production of new aviation tyres, will cost the company US$11.3 million, and the project will create 74 new jobs over an 18 month period. Hiring for some of the new posts at Norwood will begin in late April, and Michelin anticipates that 50 of the jobs will be filled by the end of 2010.

“Michelin’s Norwood facility is where some of the best aviation tyres in the world are made – tyres for commercial planes, military jets and the space shuttle,” said Dick Wilkerson, chairman and president of Michelin North America. “Adding aviation tyre retreading is the perfect complement to our current North Carolina operations. This expansion will improve the efficiency of our aviation tyre business and help us serve our customers even better in the years to come.”
 
Michelin’s 35,000 square metre Norwood facility is one of three Michelin owned sites in North Carolina – the company also operates two Oliver truck tyre retreading facilities in the state. “We are honoured that Michelin considers our state to have such a tremendous workforce and strong business climate that it decided to expand right here in North Carolina,” said North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue. “We look forward to a long-lasting relationship.”
 
“The North Carolina leadership has been tremendously supportive of our expansion plans,” added Wilkerson. “The state has always been a great place to do business and Michelin looks forward to further growing its presence here.”