SALEM, Va. (Dec. 21, 2015) — Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia L.L.C. (YTMV), the U.S. manufacturing division of Yokohama Corp. of North America (YCNA), hit two major milestones recently, celebrating its 25th year in operation under Yokohama and producing its 80 millionth tire.
“These are two very significant achievements for Yokohama, particularly in the U.S.,” said Tetsuro “Tex” Murakami, YTMV president.
“The plant helped establish our brand by providing a strategic manufacturing facility in the United States to serve both the OEM and replacement markets.
“Twenty-five years later, the 80th million tire — an AVID Ascend with Yokohama's signature technology, orange oil — rolled off the line. The accomplishments are a testament to the dedication and hard work of our employees.”
Earlier this year YTMV became a zero-landfill operation and earned the Virginia Water Environment Association's (VWEA) 2015 Environmental Warrior Award. The award was given out as part of VWEA's 2015 Industrial Waste and Pretreatment Environmental Excellence Awards Program.
In addition, YTMV has been highly active in the ongoing "Forest Forever global initiative of its parent company, Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. The initiative aims to plant approximately 500,000 trees around Yokohama's facilities worldwide by 2017.
In 2009, YTMV became the first Yokohama plant to hold a tree-planting ceremony outside of Asia. Since then, nearly 11,000 trees have been planted at the Salem facility.
YTMV has has been ISO 14001 Environmental Management System-certified since 2007.
Yokohama has owned and operated the Salem plant since 1989, taking it over then along with its purchase of Mohawk Rubber Co., which had opened the plant in 1968.