WATERVILLE, N.S. – Just a little more than one year after Michelin announced a $92 million investment in its Waterville, N.S. facility to produce its X-One wide single tire, the first tire rolled off the production line.

Approximately 100 employees from various departments across the facility had a hand in producing the plant’s first X-One tire, which was produced ahead of schedule.

“Being chosen for the X-One expansion project was certainly a great honour for employees, but I think today was even more satisfying as they watched with pride as the first X-One tire rolled off the line,” said Grant Ferguson, plant manager at Michelin’s Waterville facility.

The expansion project at the Waterville facility was made possible with support from the Nova Scotia government and Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. The project included the addition of a new building and equipment, a research and development component, and the employment of more technical and manufacturing employees related to the production of X-One wide single tires.

Upon completion, the project will expand Michelin’s X-One capacity by more than 50% and allow Waterville to become the second largest truck tire manufacturing plant in Michelin’s global network.

“Getting a new system in place, adapting to it and ensuring production quality isn’t always an easy task, but our employees were up to the challenge,” noted Ferguson. “Their commitment and tireless efforts made the X-One tire production a reality. We’re very proud of them.”

The X-One wide single tire line aims to offer significant weight savings per axle and improve fuel consumption by lowering rolling resistance. Michelin X-One tires replace dual tires with one wide single tire, converting 18-wheel tractor-trailer rigs to 10-wheelers.

The Michelin X-One tires being produced in Waterville are built with the company’s patented InfiniCoil technology, a stabilizing belt construction that runs perpendicular to the radial ply to optimize wear and handling.