GREENVILLE, S.C.-Michelin North America plans to spend $10.9 million to modernize and expand the capacity at its Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Co. plant in Kitchener, Ontario. The Kitchener factory produces automotive and light truck tires for the Canadian and export markets. With the capital improvements, capacity will increase 14 percent to approximately 13,680 units a day, according to industry sources.
The investment will include a new rubber compounding mixer, safety and ergonomic upgrades and equipment. The plant improvements will help the facility be a low-cost producer of quality tires, Michelin said.
The expansion won't change employment at the unit, which stands at 1,150, according to a Michelin spokesman.
The factory's daily output has increased 33 percent during the last two years.
The new investment follows Michelin's January announcement that it will spend $16.8 million on its three tire manufacturing facilities in Nova Scotia.