Michelin North America Inc. plans to unveil a new line of winter tires for the North American market in 2020. The company will build those tires in Granton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia. That same plant will be the first on the continent to install an innovative semi-finished manufacturing process. Combined, the new tire line and manufacturing process represent a $21 million investment in the plant, one of three Michelin production facilities in Nova Scotia.
The new winter tire
Production of the new winter tire line will begin this fall, and it will be available to consumers in 2020. Michelin hasn't revealed the tire's name, but says the new tire will build on the success of the Michelin Latitude X-Ice X12. The new line amounts to a $9 million investment in the local plant.
The new manufacturing process
Michelin will install an "innovative" semi-finished manufacturing process at the Pictou County site.
"New to North America, this innovative process allows us to produce semi-finished materials needed for tire-building right here at home," says Jeff MacLean, president of Michelin North America (Canada) Inc. "These investments allow us to remain competitive in the marketplace, while continuing to build our future here in Nova Scotia."
The $12 million project will include state-of-the art equipment, building renovations and new storage facilities at the site. This project will span 2019–2020 and will require the addition of 20 employees. Michelin says the semi-finished products will be used in several of its North American sites.
Both of the projects received financial support from the Province of Nova Scotia. The province's Nova Scotia Business Inc. Innovation Rebate Program will contribute $3.56 million; and the Department of Labour and Advanced Education is providing support with training for some of the new employees for these projects.
For more information about Michelin in Canada, visit www.michelin.ca.
