AKRON (May 2, 2002) — Goodyear plans to double the production capacity for "UniCircle" spliceless tread rubber at the company´s tread rubber plant in Social Circle, Ga., because of what it said is increased demand in North America for its truck tire retreading system.
The Akron-based tire maker plans to acquire six additional presses to produce treads for its UniCircle Retread System.
"The investment will allow us to keep pace with the tremendous growth of our UniCircle process," said Armond Boyes, general manager for Goodyear's Next-Tred operations, in a press release.
Goodyear and Ultima Next-Tred products—which include matching treads for many of the company's most popular medium truck tires—are manufactured at 171 Goodyear-authorized retread plants and distributed by more than 700 of the company's Truckwise and independent dealers throughout North America.
The company, which introduced its UniCircle Retread System in 1991, has added a new UniCircle 2002 Applicator, which it called an "engineering breakthrough" that offers a more uniform product, ease of operation and build-time comparable to typical precure builders. The fully computerized automatic builder is self-centering and self-aligning, and applies specially designed tread "with perfect tension, to ensure a precise fit that hugs the sidewalls for better adhesion to the tire casing," Goodyear said. The new applicator also features an improved stitching mechanism that first attaches the center of the tread, then works toward the shoulder of the tire.
The expansion in Social Circle will add about 40 jobs at the plant, the tire maker said. A cooperative effort between Goodyear and the state of Georgia will provide training support for the company's UniCircle Retread System to new and current employees, Goodyear added.