NOKIA, Finland — Nokian Tyres P.L.C. is adding a fourth shift at its tire factory in Nokia, effectively boosting the plant's passenger tire capacity by 30% for the foreseeable future and creating roughly 70 jobs.
Nokian plans to implement the four-shift/six-day-a-week production schedule starting in August at the latest to help meet growing demand for its products. The firm said it has extended through year-end 20202 a flexible working-hours contract with employees at the plant that had covered production through year-end 2021.
Passenger tire production at the Nokia plant is running three shifts, five days a week currently.
The contract ensures job security, Nokian said. During the contract period, Nokian has pledged there will be no layoffs or terminations of employment due to financial or production-related reasons.
"Demand for tires in our main markets has grown during the end of last year and the beginning of year 2021," Executive Vice President Manu Salmi said.
"We will continue developing the Finnish factory and increase capacity and staff for the production of passenger car tires. With these actions, we want to ensure the availability of our new successful products also in the future.
"I am very pleased that we are able to have these positive solutions that benefit both our employees and our customers."
Nokian's plant at its headquarters site in Nokia has production capacity for passenger, light truck, farm/forestry, OTR and industrial tires. Annual capacity is listed as 91,000 metric tons, according to Tire Business' Global Tire Report. Production-related employment was 924 at last count.
