Michelin has set up a new facility in the US for production of X TWEEL airless radial tire for commercial applications.
Located in Piedmont, South Carolina, the 135,000ft2 facility will enable the company to boost output of X TWEEL SSL skid-steer tires and start production of the new X TWEEL TURF as original equipment for John Deere.
John Deere will in turn to fit the tire into its ZTRAK 900 Series line-up of zero-turn commercial mowers.
Michelin North America chairman and president Pete Selleck said: "The TWEEL concept was born at Michelin Americas Research Company in Greenville, S.C., one of Michelin's three global technology centers, and now the Tweel will be manufactured right here in the Greenville area to satisfy a growing commercial market."
Originally introduced as a concept at the 2005 North American International Auto Show, the X TWEEL is an advanced airless radial tire and changes the configuration of a legacy tire, by combining the tire and the wheel assembly into one solid unit.
The non-pneumatic tire is designed to function with conventional radial tire technology but does require air, thereby eliminating the risk of a 'flat tire.'
X TWEEL is claimed to offer the advantages of no air pressure maintenance, easy mounting, damage resistance, increased operator comfort, reduced operator fatigue, improved productivity, as well as longer wear life than pneumatic tires.
Michelin Tweel Technologies head Ralph Dimenna said: "The TWEEL airless radial tire enables Michelin to enter new markets and expand its reach in existing business segments within the low-speed application category."
The company, which already has 15 facilities in the US, is expected to invest about $50m in the new plant.
Image: The 135,000ft2 facility will enable the company to boost output of X TWEEL SSL skid-steer tires and start production of the new X TWEEL TURF. Photo: Michelin.
