Chattanooga group names Nokian company of year

DAYTON, Tenn. — The Chattanooga Regional Manufacturers Association (CRMA) has named Nokian Tyres P.L.C. its 2021 Company of the Year, during an annual awards ceremony held Oct. 27 in Chattanooga Tenn.

According to the Finnish tire maker, Nokian Tyres' North American factory in Dayton received the award because of its commitment to safety, robust community efforts, sustainability achievements and innovation.

"We are honored to receive this recognition from CRMA, because it shows that our people-first approach to manufacturing is effective," David Korda, the factory operations director at the factory, said. "We will keep working hard to reward the trust our employees, community and customers have placed in us."

Nokian opened the facility in 2019 and is growing production there as it aims to reach full capacity of four million tires per year once ramp-up is complete.

The workforce of more than 300 has more than doubled in 2021, and the company continues to seek qualified workers for several positions.

According to Nokian, more than 70% of its workers live within a 20-mile radius of the factory. Nokian said it uses "latest-generation technology and rigorous quality and safety standards" to make the tires, earning ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification for its quality control and environmental practices, respectively.

In addition, Nokian was recognized for its community engagement effort, which includes a scholarship program for high-achieving students at Rhea County High School, as well as its sponsorship of Nokian Tyres Summer Nights, a summer concert series in Dayton.

The tire maker also partners with educational institutions in the area and donates thousands to non-profit organizations in Dayton and beyond.

Earlier last month, Nokian received the Governor's Environmental Stewardship Award for Excellence in Sustainable Performance, the highest sustainability honor a Tennessee organization can receive, marking the first time a Rhea County company has earned the award.

The Dayton Factory earned recognition as the first in the tire industry to earn LEED v4 Silver certification, as well as for its solar power, energy efficiency and low waste and emissions. Nokian said it holds sustainability as a core value and has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, a list of the most sustainable publicly traded companies in the world, for four consecutive years.