Area Development
Michelin North America is investing $11.3 million to expand its aviation tire operations in Norwood, N.C. The project is expected to create 74 new jobs phased in over the next 18 months.

Beginning in the second half of this year, the company will add aviation tire retreading to its current aviation new tire manufacturing at the site.

"Michelin's Norwood facility is where some of the best aviation tires in the world are made - tires for commercial planes, military jets and the space shuttle," said Dick Wilkerson, chairman and president of Michelin North America. "Adding aviation tire retreading is the perfect complement to our current North Carolina operations. This expansion will improve the efficiency of our aviation tire business and help us serve our customers even better in the years to come."

Michelin's Norwood facility currently employs 320 people in a 380,000 square feet facility. Michelin also owns two Oliver truck tire retreading facilities in Asheboro and Salisbury, N.C. Michelin North America's largest footprint is in the Carolinas, home of the company's headquarters, research and development facility and nine major manufacturing plants. Michelin employs more than 8,200 in the Carolinas.

The expansion work should be completed by the end of 2011. Michelin employs more than 20,900 and operates 18 major manufacturing plants in 16 locations.