Michelin’s investment in Dundee will safeguard 840 jobs and create 90 new jobs as well. It also includes changing the facilities at the company’s Baldovie site into “state-of-the-art” production facility. Once revamped, the site will be able to produce up to 7.5 million tyres a year.
John Reid, factory manager of Michelin told how Dundee will benefit from the funding.
“It is fantastic news for us and it is a long term commitment to jobs in Dundee, he said. “It will create jobs and opportunities – it’s exciting times for the city. “It shows the confidence in the city and it credits the good work we have been doing in this plant up to now.”
The location director of 8 Business Networking, a local business collective, Alasdair Dunlop, hailed the investment as “fantastic news for Dundee” and said, “It is great for the city and the people who live around the local area.
“There has been a lot of tension over the steel working closures – to get some good news in amongst all of that is brilliant for the city. “I think it is absolutely fantastic that a big company like Michelin has confidence to invest £52m in the city shows where the city is and where it is going. “It is also terrific that there will be 90 new jobs in the city — it is fantastic news for Dundee and it will attract more investors.
“There is a lot of work going on in Dundee, with the Waterfront Development and all the regeneration work that is being carried out. “There is a lot of investment going on in the city and we welcome it because it will pay dividends in the future. “I think things are looking great for the future on the back of this Michelin investment.”
John Reid says that “it isn’t the time to pop the Champagne bottles” because of the news about the Ballymena tyre factory closure in 2018. He said, “We are very mindful of the 860 people that are dealing with closure of the plant in Northern Ireland. For guys who have worked for Michelin for a long time, these are people who a lot of us have worked alongside in the past. “Right now it isn’t a day for us to celebrate but the celebration will come in due course. “We are excited for the future but our thoughts are also with our colleagues in Northern Ireland.”