Company investments in South Carolina total $1.15 billion over 21 months
STARR, S.C. (Jan. 24, 2013) – Michelin North America today announced a $200 million major expansion of its Starr, S.C., manufacturing plant to increase the company’s output of rubber compound material used to build tires in North America. The company expects the investment to create more than 100 new jobs.
Today’s news is the latest in a string of major manufacturing commitments made by Michelin in the past 21 months. Together, these projects represent a $1.15 billion investment by Michelin in South Carolina and the creation of at least 870 new manufacturing jobs in the state.
“I am proud to say this new expansion at this facility is one of the lynchpins that will allow us to maintain Michelin’s industry leadership in providing customers with the best tires in all categories,” said Pete Selleck, chairman and president of Michelin North America. “Michelin’s continued investment in Anderson County and the state of South Carolina is a testament to our proven, high-quality workforce here.”
Construction has begun on the Starr plant expansion, which will be adjacent to the current facility. Also nearby is Michelin’s previously announced Earthmover tire plant that is being built and scheduled to begin producing tires later this year.
Michelin said operations will begin at the expansion in 2014 and will supply material for tire production in North America, helping meet heightened overall production demands.
The Starr factory is one of two Michelin semi-finished rubber production plants in Anderson County. The company’s largest rubber-producing plant in the world is only a few miles away in Sandy Springs. Built in 1975, that facility was one of Michelin’s first manufacturing facilities in the U.S.
“This facility produces the quality rubber compound used in Michelin’s tires, and its ability to meet the strong demand for our products is critically important,” said Rich Kornacki, executive vice president of Michelin North America and head of the specialty product lines. “We are proud to place yet another one of Michelin’s key plants in Anderson County, S.C., an area that has been great for our business.”
Michelin is South Carolina’s largest manufacturing employer. Nearly 9,000 of Michelin’s 22,000 employees in North America will be located in South Carolina when all the construction is complete. Nine of Michelin North America’s 18 production facilities are located in the state.
“We are delighted that Michelin again has decided to invest in our great state and our wonderful county,” said Anderson County Council Chairman Francis Crowder. “The relationship between Anderson County and Michelin has been long and fruitful. Today Michelin will again add quality jobs and investment to our area. We are truly blessed and we pledge to continue nurturing this very special relationship now and in the future.”