Goodyear Adding Retreading Capacity to Wittlich, Germany Plant

In order to address increasing European market demand for passenger car and truck tyres, the Goodyear Dunlop group is increasing production volume at its facility in Wittlich, Germany. To facilitate a higher volume the plant is being expanded and an additional 90 jobs will be created at Wittlich by September 2010.

“At present we are seeing,” said Dr. Rainer Landwehr, managing director of Goodyear Dunlop Tires Germany, “a slight market recovery particularly in the European markets outside of Germany and we are responding to this trend with our corporate decision. Especially in the truck tyre market, both in the original equipment and the replacement market, we are seeing a marked increase over the previous year.” In Wittlich, near the Luxembourg border, the focus will be upon the production of truck and industrial tyres, along with tyres for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

A further key reason for the generation of 90 new jobs in Wittlich is the company’s decision to invest in a premium Goodyear retreading facility at the site. The Wittlich plant will, in addition to the facilities in Riom, France and Wolverhampton, established as a truck tyre retreading location. The company is investing a total of 3.7 million euros in establishing the retreading facility there.

Currently Goodyear Dunlop employs approximately 900 staff, who are engaged in the production of car, van, truck and industrial tyres. More than 222 various tyre sizes are produced there.