Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • BEST PLACES TO WORK
  • News
    • HUMANITARIAN
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
    • OBITUARIES
    • OPINION
    • MID YEAR REPORT
    • SERVICE ZONE
  • ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Resources
    • Events
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • AWARDS
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Best Places to Work
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
July 11, 2017 02:00 AM

Sentury picks Ohio design firm for Ga. plant

Tire Business Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    LAGRANGE, Ga. — Qingdao Sentury Tire Co. Ltd. has selected SSOE Group of Toledo, Ohio, to design the $530 million, 1.4 million-sq.-ft. tire plant it's planning to build in LaGrange.

    Sentury said it expects to break ground on the project this year — although the timing of that step has yet to be disclosed — in order to have the plant operational by 2019.

    Sentury has secured a 400-acre plot in the LaGrange Callaway South Industrial Park for the plant, whose first-phase capacity is pegged at 12 million units a year with up to 1,000 employees.

    Sentury said it selected SSOE because of its "extensive experience" with tire manufacturing facilities worldwide as well as its portfolio in the southeastern U.S., where, among other projects, it designed Volkswagen A.G.'s car assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tenn.

    Sentury Tire North America image

    Artist's rendering of Sentury Tire's planned factory in LaGrange, Ga.

    Among SSOE's previous tire plant experience is Continental A.G.'s factory in Sumter, S.C.; Goodyear plants in China, India, Columbia, South Africa, Philippines and Argentina; and Bridgestone Corp. in North Carolina, Tennessee and Monterrey, Mexico.

    SSOE also will provide permitting and owner's representative services with an on-site team for the duration of construction.

    SSOE describes itself as a "project delivery firm for architecture, engineering and construction management," with offices in 20 countries and projects in 40.

    Sentury Tire North America CEO Rami Helminen said SSOE will be instrumental in helping Sentury bring a "4.0 smart factory" to Georgia.

    "Our vision is to combine the best local workforce talent with state-of-the-art manufacturing and global technology for superior quality tires by Sentury brands," said Mr. Helminen, who also is an executive vice president with the parent company.

    The LaGrange plant complex will reflect Sentury's other factories in China and Thailand with smart technology, an integrated proving grounds, research and development and warehouse/distribution operations on site.

    SSOE Group photo

    Segers

    Alexandra Segers, an SSOE principal and general manager based in the firm's Atlanta office, will oversee the project, drawing on her experience with similar projects in the Southeast, specifically in the LaGrange area, as part of the Kia Motors Manufacturing plant project in nearby West Point, Ga.

    Commenting on the announcement, Ms. Segers said: "We have already developed a close partnership and look forward to achieving their goal of creating a new building standard for tire technology with their first North American facility.

    "The LaGrange site is a prime location and SSOE's strong presence in the southeastern U.S. as well as in China, position us well to support the plant and all of Sentury Tire, for years to come."

    A groundbreaking ceremony is being planned with Georgia Governor Nathan Deal expected to attend. The date is yet to be announced.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Tire Discounters grows again, adds Skip Cottrell's
    2
    Icahn-owned Auto Plus files for Chapter 11 protection
    3
    Truck sector leads U.S. tire market; consumer down
    4
    K&M welcomes dealers to annual conference in Vegas
    5
    Black's Tire Service holds leadership conference
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • BEST PLACES TO WORK
    • News
      • HUMANITARIAN
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
      • OBITUARIES
      • OPINION
      • MID YEAR REPORT
      • SERVICE ZONE
    • ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Resources
      • Events
        • ASK THE EXPERT
        • LIVESTREAMS
        • WEBINARS
        • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
        • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION