Seven million tires roll out of Roclincourt each year. This figure encapsulates all the power and pressure exerted on this industrial site in Pas-de-Calais, the French showcase of Kleber’s expertise since its acquisition by Michelin in 1981. Nearly 900 employees, a pace that does not weaken, and France continues to write its own score in the world of tires.
When Michelin took over Kleber in the early ’80s, it was not just about acquiring another brand. The group clearly aimed for influence, wanting to compete on a European scale against rivals that offered no respite. Little by little, Roclincourt became the beating heart of the brand. Production methods changed, the organization evolved: here, no decision is trivial, every direction shapes a new industrial and social landscape.
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Michelin and Kleber: two names, one ambition for France
For forty years, Michelin has infused its style into the manufacturing of French tires. Since the acquisition, research and tire manufacturing remain a territorial issue, not just a marketing argument. Behind the walls of the Kleber tire manufacturing plant, the entire industrial machinery is at work.
Operators and engineers refine processes and techniques daily. From rubber mixing to assembly, the demand for quality permeates every step, driven by inherited know-how and advancements in in-house research. Here, competitiveness rhymes with technical innovation and continuous adaptation.
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Stepping through the doors of the site is to touch a collective reality: defending the “made in France” of Kleber tires, without betraying the spirit of the brand, while facing tough European competition. Investments in machinery, staff training, and research ensure Roclincourt’s place on the continent’s industrial stage.
What lies behind the reliability of Kleber tires
Behind every tire, a series of mastered steps and strategic locations. It’s all about precision, anticipation, and demand. To understand the core of the process, one only needs to explore these key points:
- Analysis laboratory, where resistance, grip, and longevity are tested under the most demanding conditions
- Radial tire workshop, an emblematic area of the site, where Kleber’s history was forged through innovation
- Automated assembly lines, which tirelessly supply the European market
Each year, management invests to modernize and strengthen the production tool. This also involves continuous training for teams, who keep a sharp eye on changes in international standards. At Roclincourt, quality is non-negotiable. Safety and reliability remain central so that every driver finds what makes Kleber’s reputation in their car.
Facing challenges, a factory that refuses compromises
The tire sector is not immune to economic turbulence. Michelin must constantly revisit its organization to maintain an advantage: where competition applies pressure, every choice matters. Reorganizations, sometimes leading to job cuts, raise their share of tensions and debates, even in court, with the appeals court scrutinizing every decision.
To stay afloat, it is essential to invest heavily, continually modernize, maintain quality, and preserve the local industrial fabric. This fragile balance also relies on the transmission of skills and the ability to communicate with teams. The tire industry is worth billions, but behind the numbers, there are people, territories, and a whole know-how to defend.
Roclincourt moves along this fine line: every technical advancement, every social adaptation shapes the future of a changing industry. The manufacturer remains true to its philosophy: no compromise on quality, nor on local roots. It is the tires, sturdy and ready to tackle the asphalt, that pave the way for the group in the years to come.