Mitas to start hiring key workers for Iowa plant

ERJ staff report (TB)

Charles City, Iowa -- Czech farm tyre maker Mitas a.s. will start interviewing candidates this week for several key jobs at its Charles City farm tyre plant, which is scheduled to start production in early 2012.

Mitas plans to hire 10 foremen and core employees, who will be sent to the company facilities in Czech Republic, for training. The rest of the workforce of the initial 159 employees will be recruited in late 2011.

“Mitas is fulfilling the promise made to Iowans in summer 2010,” said Ralph Kellenberg, Mitas human resources. “We seek full-time employees to start our production of radial farm tyres in Charles City. We are well aware that what makes our tyres reliable is a dedicated workforce.”

Mitas is seeks foremen and workers for making tyre components, tyre building and tyre curing, and for machine and building maintenance, although no prior experience in tyre making is required. Mitas will provide training to all successful candidates..

“Agricultural tyre making requires great skill,” Kellenberger said.

Mitas Tyres Career Days will take place June 21-22 in Charles City.

Mitas has budgeted $44 million to convert a former Winnebago recreational vehicle assembly plant in Charles City to tyre manufacturing. The plant will make Mitas- and Continental-branded farm tyres.

Interested parties are asked to contact Kellenberger at ralph.kellenberger@mitas-tires.com or Mitas' Public Relations Manager Jiri Sebek at jiri.sebek@mitas-tires.com.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)