Nokian’s US staff travelling to Europe for training

Nokian Tyres is sending the first group of US employees from its Dayton, Tennessee factory to Europe for training. After a month of orientation, Nokian reports that it is sending the staff group on a six-week training trip to its facilities in Russia and Finland.

According to the company, the session is designed to equip the employees with the tools needed to produce “high-quality and sustainable tyres” at what – in Nokian words – it one of the industry’s most advanced production facilities.

Trial tyre production will begin at the company’s first North American factory later this year, and commercial production is scheduled for 2020. Peter Chia, Nokian Tyres Dayton factory operations director, said:

“We couldn’t be happier with the skill and enthusiasm of our first 60 employees. Now, we look forward to seeing them apply their energy to learning about our industry-leading processes and products.”

Most of the employees will train at the company’s factory near St. Petersburg, Russia, where the automated technology is similar to the equipment currently being installed in Dayton. Some workers will train at Nokian Tyres’ original factory and global headquarters in Nokia, Finland. While the majority of the team will travel to Europe, a group of engineers, technicians and operators will remain at the Dayton factory to commission and test equipment at the plant.

Hiring of production employees at the facility began in February. Later this year, Nokian Tyres will begin its second phase of hiring for the Dayton facility. The company plans to employ approximately 200 workers by the end of 2019.