Michelin turns tire factory into a business park

After successfully converting its former Scottish tire plant in Dundee into an innovative business park, Michelin announced plans to revitalize its tire plant in Bamberg, Germany.

Last September, the company announced that it would be closing the Bamberg plant by early 2021 due to continued declines in demand for its small-diameter tires. The French tire maker has now said it intends to establish a Cleantech Innovation Business Park on the site of the former Bamberg plant and bring in “ambitious and cross-industry” market players.

The project is currently at the concept stage, but Michelin expects to be joined by leading R&D institutes, automotive suppliers and green technology specialists. According to Michelin, on an area of ​​88 thousand square meters. m. new mobility concepts, drive systems and advanced environmental technologies will be presented. At the end of June, the French company has already reached an agreement with the authorities of the Bamberg region on cooperation in the planning of this business park.

“For a plant revival to succeed, politics, science and companies in the region must work together,” said Christian Metzger, plant manager in Bamberg. According to him, the company's project has caused a positive reaction from the German government.

The Bamberg plant, opened in 1971, produces 8 million tires a year. Mostly these are 16-inch passenger tires, the demand for which is significantly decreasing throughout the world.