Michelin North America says operations at its giant earthmover tyre factory in Starr, South Carolina will be suspended by the end of this year in response to a slowdown in global demand for these products. The decision to put production at the relatively new factory on hold will effect some 100 employees; Michelin says they will be offered jobs at other Michelin facilities in the area.
Belarus-based tyre maker Belshina JSC says its goal of producing 63-inch tyres for mining trucks should be realised by the end of next year. The company reports that modernisation of the milling facility at its Babruysk plant is currently taking place, and according to the project’s schedule further equipment for upgrading the plant will begin arriving in January 2016. A group of Belshina specialists will also complete tyre building training at a location within Europe in the coming months and will assemble prototype tyres ahead of the first Belshina 63-inch OTR tyres leaving the factory some time in 2016.
On 20 May 2015, Uniroyal celebrated the golden anniversary of its ‘Giant Tire’. The 80 foot (24.4 metre) tall model tyre – the largest ever made – was feted by an event at its home in the Detroit suburb of Allen Park. The Giant Tire sits at the entrance to the site where the Uniroyal – now part of the Michelin Group – sales office was formerly located.
Bridgestone Americas has opened its giant off-road radial tyre facility in Aiken County, South Carolina. Kazuhisa Nishigai, COO and board Member of Bridgestone Corporation, and Gary Garfield, president and CEO of Bridgestone Americas, were joined at a grand opening ceremony for the 140,000 square metre (1.5 million square feet) plant by state and local dignitaries.
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