Nokian building ‘most modern tire factory in world,’ company says

Staff photo by Mike Pare / Nokian Tyres and Rhea County officials checked out the planned site of the company's new tire manufacturing plant. From left are Dennis Tumlin, Rhea's executive director of economic and community development; Hans Dyhrman, Nokian's marketing director; and Tommi Heinonen, Nokian's North American head. Staff photo by Mike Pare / Nokian Tyres and Rhea County officials checked out the planned site of the company's new tire manufacturing plant. From left are Dennis Tumlin, Rhea's executive director of economic and community development; Hans Dyhrman, Nokian's marketing director; and Tommi Heinonen, Nokian's North American head.

By Mike Pare June 22, 2017 4 min read

TIMELINE

* May 2017 – Nokian announces $360 million plant for Dayton* August – Groundbreaking set for site with 135-acre building pad planned to handle first and potential added phases.* Jan. 1, 2018 – Site slated to be ready for Nokian to begin building the plant* Mid-2019 – Test tires to be manufactured at the plant* Early 2020 – Nokian to be in full productionSource: Nokian and Rhea County

DAYTON, Tenn. – Standing in a green pasture a few miles from downtown, Nokian Tyres’ North American chief on Wednesday called its planned tire-making plant a milestone for the company.

“We’ll be building the most modern tire factory in the world,” Nokian’s Tommi Heinonen said about the $360 million facility that will be the Finnish manufacturer’s first in the United States.

With two plants in Europe, Nokian will hire 400 people in its first phase at the new Dayton factory that Heinonen said will position Nokian as a key player in the all-season tire business.

“We’re known for our winter tires,” he said. “But we want to have the all-season tire business grow nationwide.”