Goodyear to use Impact system at Okla. tire plant

LAWTON/FORT SILL, Okla. (Jan. 17)—Goodyear's pending $250 million modernization/expansion of its Lawton/Fort Sill passenger tire plant will make the 24-year-old facility a showcase for the company's proprietary Impact production system. A central element of the four- to five-year project will be the use of elements of Impact, starting with the hot-former tire component calendering system, according to John G. Loulan, vice president, operations, manufacturing and supply chain. The first phase of the project will include adding 175,000 square feet of manufacturing space to accommodate the first hot-former line, Loulan said. The project's main aim is to make Lawton/Fort Sill the company's primary source of larger-diameter passenger and light truck tires to meet growing demand from North American vehicle makers.