Toyo Tire North America Inc. (TNA) held a grand opening for its first North American tire manufacturing and warehouse facility.
The $180 million facility, in White, Ga., is just under one million square feet and is expected to employ 350 people. Once fully operational, it has the capability of producing up to two million Toyo and Nitto brand passenger and light truck tires annually. Future phases could potentially allow for production of up to six million tires.
The facility uses Toyo’s highly automated A.T.O.M. (Advanced Tire Operation Module) system designed for multi-product, small-lot tire production which enables Toyo to reduce its overall space needs and production lead times.
TNA reports it produced its first experimental tire in October, and is on schedule to begin quality and compliance testing and progress to commercial tire production in the first quarter of 2006.
“Toyo has built the most technologically advanced manufacturing facility in its 60-year history in order to provide the highest quality tires for our loyal North American consumers and the possible service for our valued network of dealers,” says Shozo (Carlos) Kibata, TNA president.
The Bartow County, Ga., site was chosen for its strategic proximity to rail, air and interstate highway transportation, which will streamline distribution to its dealers by expediting shipments and reducing supply chain costs, the company says.
