The new facility's capacity is rated at approximately 500,000 tires annually. Goodyear has hired 90 workers so far and expects to recruit 20 additional electromechanical technicians in the coming months. The company has invested an undisclosed amount in training programs that will enable current employees to enhance their skills commensurate with the new manufacturing processes.
Dudelange is a city of about 20,000 residents in southern Luxembourg on the French border. Goodyear's existing operations in Luxembourg—comprising a truck tire plant and the company's European Innovation Center and test track—are located 35 miles north of Dudelange.
Goodyear said the Mercury process achieves its speed via forming and hot application of components at the tire assembly machine and the application of digital processing, automated, interconnected workstations using "additive manufacturing technologies."
The company equates this to 3-D printing for the tire industry and said the process will drive efficiencies.
At the same time, Goodyear is installing "virtual capabilities" at the Innovation Center in Colmar-Berg in an effort to reduce product development cycle time and help it become a "preferred" OE supplier, which the company said cuts first approval for all development products to just one physical iteration.
The christening took place May 5 with key Luxembourg government and Goodyear corporate officials on hand, including Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg's royal family; Franz Fayot, minister of economy; and Dan Biancalana, deputy mayor of Dudelange.
At the grand-opening ceremony, Fayot said the new plant "confirms the assets of the Grand Duchy as a destination for high-tech industrial investment by international groups."