CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.—Sailun Tire Americas has chosen a new home for its North American research and development. This marks a significant step for the tire maker, which looks to deepen its value tier roots in the North American market.
STA is in the process of securing equipment and hiring staff for the facility.
Dubbed the Sailun Tire Americas Technical Center (SATC), the 22,380-sq.-ft. Chattanooga building will serve as a hub of innovation for original equipment and replacement tires across a number of sectors including cars, CUVs/SUVs, light trucks, trucks and buses, and electric vehicles.
"This new facility will help us achieve our long-term goals of being a leader in the value tier and fulfill the demand for STA products across the continent," STA President Ron Dolan said in a statement. "We will continue to create great tires that meet the specific needs of our customers while still providing the value that our products and brands are known for."
STA did not say how much it is investing in the facility, when it plans to open or how many it will employ at the R&D center.
The team of engineers, designers and technicians will be led by Terry Edwards, who was named STAC chief technical officer. Edwards has more than 40 years of tire industry R&D and manufacturing expertise.
"The timing for our new technical center could not be better due to the transitioning market in North America," Edwards said in a statement. "...Together with our global R&D teams, we are confident that we will provide optimum performing products for the North American market."
Rubber News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].