Mitas Tires (formerly CGS Tires US) has signed a contract to acquire 17 curing presses worth $10 million for its factory in Charles City, Iowa, that will be delivered and installed in August and September 2011. The plant is the company’s first North American agricultural tire factory, and will start producing radial tires in 2012.
“Mitas is committed to Iowa,” said Vladimir Dusanek, U.S. project director of Mitas. “Mitas is committed to creating new jobs in Iowa and for Iowans. Virtually all employees of the Charles City plant will be local.”
Mitas estimates it will employ 159 people in the plant by 2012, increasing to 262 employees by 2016. The curing presses will be produced by the Czech company TS Plzen headquartered in the western Bohemian city of Pilsen. Mitas uses similar technology at its Czech Republic factories.
