SPARTANBURG, N.C.—Yokohama TWS said it has increased the production capacity at its agriculture tire plant in Spartanburg by 20 percent since it opened in 2015.
The company said the increase helps make it "a brilliant example of a local-for-local business model that scores high results through deep market listening." The company did not specify the plant's capacity, however.
Yokohama TWS said the value of the North American ag tire market was valued at over $930 million in 2023 and is expected to reach $1.3 billion by 2030 as a result of mechanization in agriculture, larger farm operations, increases in crop yields and shorter replacement cycles.
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd.—which completed its $2.3 billion acquisition of Trelleborg Wheel Systems in May 2023—said the 430,000-sq.-ft. facility provides the "right" products for the ag market, with durability to perform on rugged terrain under heavy loads.
"We posed the question to ourselves: what does the market expect from us today compared to a decade ago?" Marco D'Angelo, vice president of manufacturing at Yokohama TWS, said.
The question resulted in the tire maker saying it improved its range of flotation tires, innovated production processes and enhanced customer benefits.
"We are now more confident than ever in serving our North American customers, who can easily stock up on Trelleborg tires, knowing they are locally manufactured in the United States," he said.
The company credited technology for the plant improvement.
TWS said the plant features the most advanced technology in the preparation of semi-finished products through tire building and curing, as well as machine automation and process control, while minimizing the environmental impact of operations.
"Our facilities adapt and evolve their production range based on market demand," D'Angelo said, noting TWS' research and development managers oversee both process implementations and product developments.
"Our aim is to truly immerse ourselves, comprehend our customers' genuine needs, and respond accordingly."
