Mitas Tires North America Inc. is only a few months away from producing farm tires in Charles City, Iowa. The man behind it almost guarantees it.
Less than one year after breaking ground on the $52 million facility, the goal is "to be ready for seriel production in April," says Pavel Charvát, president of Mitas Tires, the domestic subsidiary of Mitas a.s.
Charvát, 55, also was named plant director last October. "I will make sure Mitas’ new farm tire plant is online early next year,” he said at the time. “I am moving to Iowa to closely oversee the construction, machinery installation and training of workers.”
(For the latest update on plant production, see "Mitas prepares to open ag plant in Iowa.")
Charvát has managed various companies within CGS Holding (CGS a.s.), which owns Mitas. He joined the company in 1980 in Prague, Czech Republic, where Mitas is headquarted.
From 2008 until recently, Charvát acted as the CEO and chairman of the board of another CGS company, Buzuluk. He is a graduate of the Prague Institute of Chemical Technology.
Neil Rayson, formerly president of Mitas Tires North America, retains all his previous responsibilities and has become the senior vice president of sales.
"The subsidiary has been doubling sales for (the last) two years, and this speaks of Neil’s great abilities and business acumen," says a company spokesman.
"Now, Mitas is building the new farm tire factory in Charles City, and with this $52 million investment, there are additional tasks which the subsidiary management needs to perform on top of sales. Pavel Charvát performs some of these additional tasks."
According to Modern Tire Dealer estimates, the plant will be able to produce close to 500 ag tires a day at full capacity.