Tire plant positive for Coweta, region

The decision by Sentury Tire, the fifth-largest tire manufacturer in China, to locate a plant in LaGrange will also benefit Coweta and the West Georgia region, according to local business professionals. 

Gov. Nathan Deal recently announced that Sentury Tire will create more than 1,000 jobs and invest $530 million in a car- and light-truck tire manufacturing operation in neighboring Troup County.

Sentury Tire is headquartered in Qingdao, Shandong, China. In 2009, it started mass production of tires for passenger, crossover, and sport utility vehicles, as well as commercial vans, light trucks and aircraft, according to a press release.

The new, $430 million tire manufacturing facility will serve as the North American headquarters and will be located on 400 acres at LaGrange Callaway South Industrial Park.

“Sentury Tire’s commitment to locate in LaGrange speaks to Georgia’s business-friendly climate and the strong relationship we maintain with our economic partners in China,” said Deal in a press release. “We value Sentury Tire’s investment in Georgia and the vision of the company’s leadership for continued growth in Troup County. I am positive that Georgia’s automotive manufacturing and technology capabilities will be assets to Sentury Tire as the company serves a growing customer base.”

The new manufacturing facility will create jobs in production, national sales and marketing, warehousing and distribution. As a further investment in the facility, Sentury is planning to incorporate a research and development center that will employ approximately 100 highly qualified technical personnel.

“We are very happy to select LaGrange as the location of our North American manufacturing,” said Sentury Tire Executive Vice President Rami Helminen in a press release. “The education systems and high quality workforce complement our leading edge technology in the production and research and development. We are confident that Georgia has the infrastructure that can help us build a successful logistical operation to supply our growing aftermarket-dealer sales and (original-equipment manufacturer) sales to auto manufacturers in the North American market.”

Coweta County Development Authority President Greg Wright said he is not sure what the impact will be on Coweta as of yet, but the location of the tire company in LaGrange is favorable for the region.

“Having companies like Sentury Tire, SILON, Blickle and NYCO locate in the region helps reinforce the fact that the I-85 corridor is a desirable location for new business and industry, and, with the level of new project activity we are seeing, there are sure to be more new job opportunities coming to the West Georgia region in the near future,” Wright said.

Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman John Hall said that  “manufacturing is especially valuable in today’s economy for the job creation and tax revenues it brings.”

Hall said the location of the tire company may bring more job opportunities to Coweta, but also the opportunity for more business transactions.

“The economic development from vendors and suppliers will create more opportunities that will benefit Coweta both directly and indirectly,” he said. “Our location halfway between LaGrange and Hartsfield-Jackson Airport will generate economic prosperity for Coweta and our citizens. This is tremendous news for our region, and the chamber congratulates LaGrange for this regional manufacturing blockbuster.”  

Production is expected to start in 2018. The projected manufacturing capacity is 12 million passenger and light-truck tires annually.

Sentury Tire products are sold worldwide under the brands Sentury, Landsail and Delinte.