Work starts on Mitas US plant conversion

On June 30 a groundbreaking ceremony was held to mark the start of work to convert the former Winnebago Industries factory in the US state of Iowa into a production site for Mitas agricultural tyres. A number of civic representatives attended the ceremony in Charles City, which was hosted by project leader Vladimir Dusanek, vice-president of Mitas Tires North America.

“Mitas brings to Charles City a combination of business assets that have always worked well for us in the past, those being a well respected manufacturing tradition, a skilled well-trained workforce and a strong market niche,” said Charles City mayor Jim Erb. Vladimir Dusanek added that the new plant is “key to Mitas’ expansion in North America.”

Mitas Tires North America reports that current work at the Charles City plant involves building the facility’s energy centre and creating pits for the curing presses. Concurrently, Mitas has hired ten core employees and will train them in the Czech Republic. The remainder of the plant’s initial 159 employees will be recruited in late 2011. Tyre production is expected to commence in the first quarter of next year.