WATERVILLE, Nova Scotia (March 1, 2007) — Michelin North America Inc. began production of its X One wide single truck tire at its Waterville plant today, the culmination of an $82 million ($92 million Canadian) plant expansion announced in early 2006.
“Sales of the X One tire have more than doubled each year since its commercial introduction in 2000,” said Luc Minguet, chief operating officer, Michelin Americas Truck Tires. “This expansion in Waterville is a key component of Michelin's ability to meet the growing demand of the North American marketplace.”
The expansion involved adding a new building and equipment to expand X One production capacity by more than 50 percent at the plant, making the Waterville facility Michelin's second largest truck tire plant.
Michelin did not disclose capacity, but said once full production at Waterville is implemented, it will double the North American production of the X One. The tire also is produced at Michelin's factory in Spartanburg, S.C.
Michelin touts wide single—also dubbed “super single”—tires as a way to enhance weight savings per axle and improve fuel consumption by lowering rolling resistance.