The company said on July 17 that the Bloomington-Normal plant will gain an additional 30 employees. Post-expansion it will produce multiple sizes and patterns of 29in, 33in and 35in (73.7cm, 83.8cm and 88.9cm) tyres.

No timeline for completion was disclosed, and a request for further details on the project by MM was not returned.

"This investment is about increasing our flexibility to produce high-quality radial or bias tyres - whatever our customers demand," plant manager Monty Greutman said. "It will allow us to deliver on our global commitment to develop innovative new products that will meet our customers' needs, but it wouldn't be possible without the outstanding teammates we have here today - some of whom have worked here for decades."

"The addition of the three tyre sizes to the Bloomington production line, combined with our Aiken County, South Carolina, Off-Road Tire Plant, allows us to support North American customers with regional supply of our key products," OTR president Bridget Neal added.

The Bloomington-Normal facility, which produces tyres for both mining and construction applications, is owned and operated by Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. In 2011 and 2014, the company invested US$48 million in the plant for a radial and giant loader expansion. It initially purchased the facility in 1994.