Goodyear upgrades test lab in Luxembourg

COLMAR-BERG, Luxembourg — Goodyear has doubled the size of and upgraded the tire test laboratory at its "innovation center" in its Colmar-Berg factory and technical center complex.

The lab facility houses technology for testing car, light truck and commercial truck tires, Goodyear said, and is equipped to perform three key testing activities: measure tire development performance parameters; monitor production performance and quality control; and carry out regulatory and homologation tests.

These tests will measure tire compliance with global and international standards and will help Goodyear reduce amount of road testing and development time and increase innovation for new tires.

"Goodyear's strategy is founded on producing high-quality, innovative products as the shift to more complex, high-value added tires continues to accelerate," said Jean Claude Kihn, Goodyear's president for Europe, Middle East and Africa during the opening ceremony.

Mr. Kihn did not disclose its investment in the project, but said it would help Goodyear meet "the exacting demands" of its customers while strengthening its presence in Luxembourg.

Carlos Cipollitti, vice president, product development, Europe/Midde East/Africa, and general director of the Goodyear Innovation Center in Luxembourg, added: "The innovative technology and machinery in the new laboratory strengthens our ability to test tires in our lab, which means that we do not have to perform as much testing on the road, speeding development time and getting innovative new tires to customers faster than ever."

Goodyear did not say whether the upgrade created any new jobs.