PT. II Inside the Modern Tyres Tyre and Rim Assembly Facility
Modern Tyres recently opened its brand new tyre and rim assembly facility at Carnbane Business Park in Newry, Co. Down. Company Director, Rory Byrne gave John Loughran the guided tour.
On visiting Modern Tyres' purpose built, 100,000 square foot, tyre and rim assembly facility on the outskirts of Newry, it becomes apparent that tyre and rim assembly for the OE market on the island of Ireland has entered a new paradigm.
Make no mistake this facility has set the benchmark for others to follow!
While Enniskillen remains the administrative centre of the Modern Tyres Group, Newry was chosen to be the home of its new ultra-modern facility because of its location. Built on an eight acre site, just 500 metres from the M1 motorway this facility exudes excellence.
It's location, a stones throw from the Belfast to Dublin motorway is just one of many facets that sets it apart from other tyre and rim assemby facilities.
Rory added: “The location facilitates easy access to the motorway network, and eases container traffic into and out of the facility.”
The new facility is kitted out with all the latest equipment the reader would associate with an ultra modern tyre and rim assembly facility, and is configured to deliver maximum efficiencies.
The six self levelling loading bays are a case in point, and are testament to the level of detail, that went in to the design of this super facility.
Inside the facility, Modern Tyres carries a stock of up to 10,000 steel rims and large quantities of OE tyres (from various manufacturers) to facilitate the efficient distribution of tyre and wheel assemblies to multiple trailer manufacturers on the island of Ireland.
Similarly, the company warehouses large quantities of Agri and Industrial rims and tyres from various OE manufacturers to cater for the Agri trailer and Industrial trailer markets.
Moreover, Modern Tyres new facility also carries a large stock of Speedline and SRW truck alloy wheels, to meet the requirements of the many truck manufacturers, that are now specifying their HGVs on alloy wheels.
Rory told the Tyre Trade Journal: “The new facility will improve efficiencies within the family run company, allowing Modern Tyres to provide a complete end-to end service to our OE tyre manufacturing customers.”
“Our new purpose built manufacturing facility will allow our business to grow capitalising on new opportunities in export markets.”
To fully understand the significance of this facility, which has seen Modern Tyres create a new Division employing 25 staff, it is important to understand the genesis of the business.
For more than a decade Modern Tyres had assembled tyres and rims for the OE trailer market from its retail premises at Carnbane Business Park.
Initially, Modern Tyres' staff at its tyre retail outlet were able to juggle the demands of tyre retailing with tyre and rim assembly.
However, as the tyre and rim assembly business began to gather pace it became apparent that a larger, purpose built facility would be needed.
Rory commented: “We wanted to offer our OE tyre manufacturers a first class service, but as the business developed we out grew the original premises, and a decision was taken to relocate to a larger premises.”
Some five years ago plans were hatched to build a state-of-the-art facility to house Modern Tyres' burgeoning tyre and rim assembly business.
An eight acre-site, just 500 metres from its retail outlet in Carnbane Business Park was acquired, plans for the new facility were drawn up, and after Planning Permission was obtained the Odyssey began.
Rory explained that the project took the Design Team all over Europe to visit the most modern and efficient tyre and rim assembly facilities across the Continent.
From the outset the project was enthusiastically supported by Rory's late father, Jimmy, who founded the business in 1965, and who sadly passed away six months ago.
Jimmy started with a single tyre depot. Today the company has grown to 48 branches and in turn is Ireland's largest independent tyre retailer employing over 200 people.
The official opening of the new facility coincided with Modern Tyres' Annual Conference at Killeavy Castle just outside Newry, which was held on 14th January.
This was the first time in two years that the company had been able to bring its staff together.
While undoubtedly it was a cause for celebration as members of the Byrne family gathered to cut the ribbon on the company’s new €8 million facility it was also a time for reflection.
The occasion was tinged with sadness that founder Jimmy Byrne wasn’t present to witness the opening of this facility, that bore all the hallmarks of his input into the planning of the project.