Toyo Tire North America Celebrates Grand Opening of First North American Tire Plant
New state-of-the-art plant to employ hundreds of Georgians
Plant is newest high-tech addition to Southeast automotive manufacturing hub
WHITE, Ga., Dec. 8 -- Toyo Tire North America, Inc. (TNA) celebrated the grand opening of its first North American tire manufacturing and warehouse facility in White, Ga. today with a special ceremony attended by Georgia state and regional officials, Toyo and Nitto customer dealers, and Bartow County business and community leaders.
The new state-of-the-art, $180 million facility is just under one million square feet and expected to initially create 350 jobs for Georgians, with the potential to employ up to 900 skilled workers based on market demand. Once fully operational and staffed, the TNA facility has the capability of annually producing up to 2 million passenger car and light truck tires under the Toyo and Nitto brands. Future phases could potentially allow for production of up to 6 million passenger car and light truck tires.
After less than a year of intensive facility construction and preparations, culminating with the plant producing its first experimental tire in October 2005, TNA is on schedule to begin quality and compliance testing and progress to commercial tire production in the first quarter of 2006. Tires will be manufactured using Toyo's highly-automated and proprietary tire production system, Advanced Tire Operation Module (A.T.O.M.). The A.T.O.M. system is designed for multi-product, small-lot production, and enables Toyo to reduce its overall space needs and production lead times.
With potential site and facility investments of up to $400 million dollars, and potential employment of up to 900 members of Georgia's skilled workforce, Toyo hopes to bring a positive impact to the region by providing opportunities for financial growth and stability and to increase the Southeast's growing automotive industry manufacturing assets, influence and capabilities.
"We have worked hard to market the state of Georgia to industry-leading companies all over the world," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "Today's grand opening is a celebration of the hard work and cooperation of state and local economic development officials. Toyo is providing skills and job training to Georgia citizens, and strengthening the Bartow County community."
The state-of-the-art facility was built to enhance distribution and inventory availability for Toyo's expanding network of independent dealers currently facing an increased demand for high performance tires. The Bartow County location offers Toyo strategic proximity to rail, air, and interstate highway transportation, which will streamline distribution to its dealers by expediting shipments and reducing supply chain costs.
"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," said Mr. Shozo (Carlos) Kibata, president of Toyo Tire North America. "We are grateful to Georgians for helping us to create this impressive facility and for providing a diversified and highly skilled workforce that will enable us to manufacture the industry's most innovative and reliable tires yet."
The Toyo Group manufactures and distributes a complete line of high performance and original equipment replacement tires. These tires meet needs for passenger car and light trucks, medium and heavy duty truck tires and giant off-the-road tires. Consistently ranked by independent tire dealers and industry experts as leading innovators of high-quality products, Toyo and Nitto brand tires hold the respect of enthusiasts and dealers alike.
In 2006, the new Georgia facility will produce an estimated two million passenger car and light truck tires under the company's Toyo and Nitto brands, including popular models such as:
- Toyo Proxes S/T High Performance Sport Truck and SUV Radial - Toyo Open Country M/T All-Around Light Truck Traction Radial - Toyo Open Country A/T Versatile All-Terrain Light Truck Radial - Nitto NT 420S All-Season High Performance Truck and SUV Radial - Nitto Mud Grappler Mud-Terrain Light Truck Radial - Nitto Terra Grappler #1-Rated All-Terrain Light Truck Radial - Nitto NT 555 Ultra High Performance Radial
Toyo and Nitto brand tires are also highly regarded by motor sports professionals world-wide. From professional motor sport competitions such as Championship Off Road Racing to Sports Car Club of America Pro Racing and Formula DRIFT Series Racing, professionals rely on Toyo and Nitto tires for winning and consistent performance.
Toyo and Nitto brand tires are only available at leading independent tires dealers across North America. Consumers looking to replace existing tires or step up to a high-performance tire, are guaranteed to experience a quality, comfortable ride with Toyo and Nitto tires. With optimum balance in construction and compounding to deliver the exceptional wet and dry performance, Toyo and Nitto tires provide a noticeable difference experienced under most any driving condition.
In addition to the grand opening special events to be held on-site at the new facility, Toyo announced a renewed commitment to the communities in which it operates by presenting a third donation to Bartow County Schools. This funding will extend Bartow's successful 2005 SAT and after-school tutoring program. Toyo also announced its support of Bartow Crossroads Academy with a gift to fund the purchase of facility equipment and funds to go toward the purchase of school uniforms for students in need of assistance. This donation will help students from all over the county who are at-risk with academic, emotional or behavioral challenges and help foster a productive learning environment.
The Toyo brand has been ranked "No. 1 for Product Quality" for eight consecutive years, and ranked "No. 1 overall in the Consumer Brands" category for five consecutive years in surveys conducted by Tire Review, a leading North American trade magazine.