Nokian opens administration building, earns certification

DAYTON, Tenn. — Nokian Tyres P.L.C. is celebrating the one-year anniversary of the opening of its first North American manufacturing facility with two more reasons to celebrate.

The Finish tire maker said it is opening an eco-friendly administration building on its 135-acre site near Dayton and that the tire plant has earned LEED v4 silver certification.

Nokian said both milestones show the tire maker's desire "to serve as the employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee" and grow its North American presence.

David Korda, Nokian construction manager, said the accomplishments "showcase our passion for our employees and the environment. We believe these areas of growth display what Nokian Tyres is all about."

Nokian said its LEED v4 silver certification is a testament to its low emissions, energy-efficient facility and its adherence to strict environmental standards.

Nokian credited its "deep range" of sustainable elements for the certification, including:

• Smart building automation designed to save energy;
• Eco-friendly building materials;
• Efficient water and waste management systems;
• Electric vehicle charging stations in the parking lot; and
• Renewable energy generation via onsite solar panels.

"Ever since we began construction of our Dayton factory, sustainability has been a chief priority," Mr. Korda said. "We're honored to receive LEED v4 Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, which affirms that passion for sustainability."

Meanwhile, the 26,000 sq.-ft. administration building is powered by solar energy and features several amenities to promote the employees' health and well-being.

The factory will manufacture 4 million tires annually and employ 400.

Similar to the tire plant, the administration building follows the company's core values of safety and sustainability. A bank of solar panels anchored in the parking lot provides all of the building's power and generates enough energy to hold some in reserve, according to Nokian. The three-megawatt panels can generate around 4,000 megawatt-hours of solar energy each year, enough to power more than 500 homes.

The area includes more than two acres of greenspace, with trees, plants and a pond.

Nokian said employee welfare was considered first and foremost in the building's design. The offices and meeting spaces accommodate as many as 65, while the facility also features a workout area, mothers' room, canteen and a sauna.

The open-concept work space fits with the company's collaborative culture, Nokian said, while outdoor courtyards allow office employees to work outside when weather allows.

"We want to empower our employees to succeed, and we think our administration building will help serve their needs," Nokian human resources manager Blake Markham said. "Our investment in this facility is part of a larger investment we're making in their growth."

The North American facility is the cornerstone of Nokian's goal to double sales in North America.

In a recent interview, Nokian President and CEO Jukka Moisio said the tire maker wants to add a second shift to production at the Dayton manufacturing plant.

Nokian said it has openings in the factory's mixing, tire production, maintenance and logistics areas and other general factory work. Applicants may click here for more information.

Nokian Tyres dedicated the factory in October 2019 in a ceremony attended by customers, community members and federal, state and local leaders. There, the company launched the Nokian Tyres Road to Sustainable Success, an initiative to support education, fund scholarships and advocate for sustainability in Southeast Tennessee.

Nokian claims it excludes harmful high-aromatic oils from its tire compounds and has reduced the rolling resistance of its products by an average of 8% since 2013, equivalent to the exhaust fumes of 65,000 cars annually.

The tire maker said it has reduced CO2 emissions at all of its production facilities by 44% in the last six years. It is among the world's most sustainable publicly traded companies, as ranked by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

Nokian recently named Anna Hyvönen, a member of the firm's management team for the past four years, as senior vice president, North America, replacing Mark Earl, who has left Nokian "to pursue other career opportunities."

Ms. Hyvönen added responsibility for North America to her duties as senior vice president for Nokian's Nordics region and the Vianor retail tire and auto service business.