South Carolina On a Roll as Leading U.S. Tire Producer

---

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The opening of a Bridgestone (Tokyo, Japan) tire plant last week in South Carolina helps to cement the state's standing as the nation's leader in tire manufacturing. Bridgestone announced the opening of its first giant off-road radial plant, located in Aiken Country. The tires are used for big hauling trucks in the mining and aggregates sector.

Industrial Info is tracking 86 active and unconfirmed U.S. tire-related projects worth $2.95 billion, including 14 projects in South Carolina, worth $837 million.

Seven of the South Carolina projects, valued at $578 million, could kick off in 2015. These include five maintenance projects.

Bridgestone's 1.5 million-square-foot giant tire plant in Aiken County is part of a two-phase project totaling $1 billion in value.

View Plant Profile - 3037056

Phase II of the expansion is valued at $100 million, and will increase production at the site to 13,000 tires per day from 8,000 tires, according to Industrial Info. Completion is slated for the second quarter of 2015.

View Project Report - 300137497

The Charlotte Observer proclaimed South Carolina last summer as the nation's tire king, with daily production of 89,000 tires. Oklahoma came in second with daily production of 88,000 tires, according to the newspaper. Lured by lower labor costs and various tax incentives, the auto industry has flocked to southern states for several years.

Gita Tire Group (Singapore) announced this summer that it would build a grassroot plant in Chester County, South Carolina, which would make it the company's first facility in North America.

"The new facility will combine manufacturing plant and distribution center, with total building area estimated to be 1.8 million square feet," according to a press statement by Tom McNamara, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Giti Tire (USA) Limited. "The first phase of production capacity is expected to be 5 million tires annually. Giti Tire plans to further increase production capacity in response to future market demand and conditions."

Assuming the project goes forward, kickoff could take place in 2015, with completion in 2017.

View Project Report - 300169808
Also, Continental Tire North America, which is part of Continental AG (Hanover, Germany) is performing preliminary design for Phase II of a $500 million plant expansion at its site in Sumter, South Carolina. The plant makes tires for passenger vehicles and light trucks. The expanded facility would produce 8 million tires annually. Kickoff is slated for the first quarter of 2017, with completion in 2021.

View Project Report - 300047405
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.