Conti to boost production in Mayfield

MAYFIELD, Ky. (Jan. 17)—Continental Tire North America Inc. will increase tire production at its Mayfield factory by 2,000 units a day by May 1 in response to a new contract with Ford Motor Co. and several upcoming new tire introductions. The production increase will mean the addition of about 65 hourly production jobs at the facility, bringing total employment at the facility to 1,350, according to Ken Herndon, Conti's human resources manager at the plant. No new equipment will be needed to handle the increased production because Continental had continued to invest in the plant and actually had added some equipment in 2001 when a planned increase was tabled when the economy "went the other way," he said. Conti plans to add 1,000 tires a day in March and by May 1 start making the additional 1,000 tires for the daily ticket.