Michelin closes BR plant in Bassens for three weeks

ERJ staff report (DS)

Paris -- Michelin has said its synthetic rubber factory in Bassens, France will be closed for about three weeks from the end of April, due to lack of demand for its products.

Michelin said up to 320 employees will be encouraged to take their annual leave during the shut-down, which is expected to last until the second half of May, according to a Michelin spokeswoman. Local press said it is scheduled to re-open on May 18th. She said this is the easiest way to ensure staff are employed on full wages, even during a temporary adjustment of output.

The unit makes neodymium-catalysed BR used to make low-rolling resistance tyres and employs around 370 people. It has nominal capacity for 75 000 tonnes/year, according to statistics published by the IISRP.