OPERATIONS

Michelin restarts production at South Carolina facility

Tyre manufacturer Michelin North America has once again begun to produce mining tyres at its earthmover plant in Starr, South Carolina, US, after idling the facility in 2016

Staff Reporter
 The Michelin US 10 plant in Starr will ramp up production through 3Q19

The Michelin US 10 plant in Starr will ramp up production through 3Q19

According to local news outlet the Greenville News, Michelin transferred about 100 workers from other factories to staff the Starr location, which exclusively produces open-pit tyres in 57in and 63in (145cm to 160cm) sizes.

The 853,000ft2 (79,250m2) plant, known as US 10, restarted on July 19. A grand reopening was held August 30.

Michelin global earthmoving tyre division president Bruce Brackett called the effort ‘Project Sleeping Beauty' and told the paper that production will ramp up steadily in the coming months ahead of reaching commercial-scale production in the September quarter of 2019.

The plant, located south-west of Greenville, first opened in 2013 and was part of the company's US$750 million investment in OTR tyre production. It was anticipated about 80% of its production would be exported.

Modular in design, officials said at the original opening that any future expansion of the facility would be relatively easy to accomplish.

In all, Michelin has six earthmover tyre plants across the globe, including Starr and Lexington, South Carolina, along with locations in Brazil, France and Spain.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Automation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations using autonomous solutions in every region and sector, including analysis of the factors driving investment decisions