Toyo to Strengthen U.S. Production Capacity
Toyo Tire Corp. has begun strengthening its production capacity at its Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. (TNA) facility in Bartow County, Georgia.
Strengthening production capacity was one component of Toyo’s medium-term business plan formulated in 2017 in order ot boost sales in the North American market. The plan also includes optimizing the company’s product mix to reflect market trends, improving its development and “technical capabilities to supply products that surprise,” reinforcing the strength of its brand, and building an efficient supply system.
“In the North American market, pickup truck and large SUV sales are currently firm, and Toyo has a competitive advantage with regard to the highly creative large-diameter tires mounted on these kinds of vehicles,” Toyo stated in a news release. “A steady increase in the demand and supply capacity of this type of tire is expected to continue even in 2020 and beyond. With these market conditions, Toyo decided to install production equipment in the remaining half of the space in new fifth phase building at TNA that was expanded at the end of last year in order to further strengthen production capacity.”
Toyo’s U.S. facility primarily manufactures light-truck tires and other large-diameter tires for trucks and SUVs for the North American market. A highly automated and proprietary production system, Advanced Tire Operation Module (A.T.O.M.), is used in the entire facility.
TNA has been increasing its production capacity in multiple steps over four phases to meet the sharp increase in demand for light-truck tires in the North American market. In the fall of 2016, TNA became Toyo’s largest tire manufacturing facility with an annual production capacity of 11.5 million tires. TNA manufactured its 50 millionth tire in January.
