Greenville, South Carolina, and its surrounding area, which includes Greer, Spartanburg and Anderson, is a new emerging rubber capital. The Greenville area has greatly helped to lead the way for South Carolina to now claim the title of “top tire producing state” in the USA.
In the Greenville area, Michelin employs about 8,500 people at their North American Headquarters, their Michelin American Research and Development Corporation, and their passenger tire plant (all in Greenville). Then they have another passenger tire plant in Lexington, their Off-the-Road tire plant in Lexington, their truck tire plant in Spartanburg, and their Off-the-Road tire and semi-finished products plant in Starr, SC. Also, Michelin has a truck tire retreading plant in Duncan SC. For over 40 years, Michelin has been investing in the Greenville area.
For about 25 years, Bridgestone has also been investing in the area with two plants (one in Aiken and the other in Graniteville, SC). Also, Continental Tire, Giti Tire, and Trelleborg Wheel Systems have each built tire plants in South Carolina. This translates into the state of South Carolina now having a total of 15 tire plants, as shown below and counting!
- Michelin: 10 Factories
- Bridgestone: 2 Factories
- Continental Tire: 1 Factory
- Giti Tire: 1 Factory
- Trelleborg Wheel: 1 Factory
Also, the Greenville area is now known as the “Detroit of the South” with BMW’s construction of a 4 million square foot automobile plant in Greer, SC which employs about 7000 workers and produces 600 automobiles per day.
The Southern Rubber Group (SRG) will usually have their Winter Meeting in Greenville, which will usually attract more than 100 rubber technologists. The SRG is among the top four most active rubber groups of the Rubber Division ACS and has very interesting technical seminars each year.
Also, Clemson University is a great engineering university which is located only 30 miles from Greenville. Every year, Clemson sponsors the “Clemson Tire Industry Conference” usually at Hilton Head Island, SC.
The population of Greenville itself is 68,000; however, its Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is just over one million people.
The following are some things to do while visiting Greenville.
- Falls Park on the Reedy
- Paris mountain State Park
- Greenville Zoo
- Swamp Rabbit Trail
Greenville County Museum of Art