Today, Mitas opened its newest radial farm tire factory in Charles City, which coined the word “tractor.” Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, 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. “Mitas invites all farmers to buy tires made in the tractor town.”

The newly opened plant makes all common agricultural tire sizes and will eventually produce sizes of up to 54” diameter and 1,200 mm width. 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 local residents.

The Charles City facility received its ISO 9001 in March, and the National Safety Council has awarded it Gold-level Recognition for Incident Rate Excellence during 2011. The project has received support from the Iowa Economic Development Authority, Charles City Development Corporation, Floyd County and North Iowa Community College.

“The American farmer will benefit from increased competition,” Nemec added as Mitas has become the third radial agricultural tire producer in the United States. “Good tractor tires are worth their weight in gold,” said Senator Chuck Grassley (R) in his video message to Mitas. “A quality product is exactly what we need,” he added.

Mitas Tires North America, Inc., 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 – a member of CGS a.s. Holding – operates three production plants in the Czech Republic and one in Serbia, and maintains a global sales and distribution network. Currently, Mitas is building an agricultural tire plant in Charles City, Iowa.