CHARLES CITY, Iowa -Mitas opened its newest radial farm tire factory in Charles City last week.
Charles City Mayor James Erb and Mitas representatives Tomas Nemec and Oldrich Slemr cut the ribbon to start serial production of farm tires. Mitas announced it would accelerate its $52 million investment to achieve the full production capacity of 13,500 metric tons of tires a year by 2013, which is three years earlier than originally anticipated.
"Mitas is now an American-made brand," said Tomas Nemec, the chairman of Mitas' parent company, CGS.
The last curing press will be installed by mid-2013. In April, the factory employed 76 full-time employees recruited locally, and by 2013 the plant will employ 237.
The project has received support from the Iowa Economic Development Authority, Charles City Development Corporation, Floyd County and North Iowa Community College.
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"The American farmer will benefit from increased competition," Nemec added as Mitas has become the third radial agricultural tire producer in the United States.
Mitas Tires North America is a subsidiary of MITAS a.s. which is one of Europe's leading producers of agricultural tires. Mitas manufactures and sells tires under three brand names: The company's own Mitas and Cultor, and Continental under license. In addition, Mitas produces and distributes a wide range of Mitas-branded industrial and motorcycle tires. Mitas is amember of CGS a.s. Holding and operates three production plants in the Czech Republic, one in Serbia and one in the USA, and maintains aglobal sales and distribution network.
