Michelin opened a manufacturing plant in Piedmont, S.C., exclusively to produce Michelin X Tweel airless radial tires.
The new 135,000 square-foot facility, with a $50 million price tag, is Michelin’s 10th manufacturing facility in South Carolina and the 16th in the U.S.
“The Tweel being built here in South Carolina is yet another dramatic example of Michelin’s long-standing commitment to breakthrough innovation,” said Pete Selleck, Michelin North America chairman and president. “The Tweel concept was born at Michelin Americas Research Co. in Greenville, S.C., one of Michelin’s three global technology centers, and now the Tweel will be manufactured right here in the Greenville area to satisfy a growing comercial market.”
The decision to open the facility comes on the heels of Michelin Tweel Technologies’ partnership with John Deere, producing Michelin X Tweel Turf tires for John Deere ZTRAK 900 Series models. Michelin also recently expanded the Tweel for use on skid-steers.
“Differentiating us from competitors, the Tweel airless radial tire is the industry’s first commercialized airless radial solution and verifies Michelin’s leadership for the next generation of mobility,” said Ralph Dimenna, head of Michelin Tweel Technologies. “The Tweel airless radial tire enables Michelin to enter new markets and expand its reach in existing business segments within the low-speed application category. The industry is hungry for solutions contributing to productivity, safety and bottom lines. Serving our customers is at the center of our strategy for success.”
