Michelin further along £52m road

INVESTMENT: Talks with Scottish Enterprise on new tyre tread workshop

Michelin’s proposed £15 million investment in upgrading the tyre tread workshop at its Dundee plant has reached a further milestone.

The French-owned company has formally approved the venture, fulfilling its previous commitment to the Dundee operation despite the UK’s vote to leave the European Union.

Factory manager John Reid said discussions are now in progress with Scottish Enterprise to secure grant support for the upgrade.

“We as a company said it would be business as usual despite the Brexit vote, and signing-off the latest development is evidence of that support,” Mr Reid said.

“We want to go ahead with it, but we hope to secure grant support from Scottish Enterprise towards the £15m cost, and we are discussing this with the government agency at present.”

Tread is applied to tyres in the curing workshop, and 33 new electric presses are to be installed to significantly increase capacity.

New machines capable of building larger tyres will also be arriving.

Michelin has placed Dundee at the heart of its manufacturing operation after confirming a £52m overall investment in the city.

The Baldovie site is being transformed into a state-of-the-art facility producing larger, low-rolling-resistance tyres.

It has also invested in a new 20,000 sq metre warehouse.

The overall project will raise the site’s annual output to around 7.5 million tyres.

Weasa company said it would be business as usual despite the Brexit vote… JOHN REID

Tyre production at Michelin’s Dundee site: the proposed £15m investment in upgrading the tyre tread workshop has reached a further milestone.