BFS may close Oklahoma City tyre plant this year

Nashville Tennessee -- Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire has advised the United Steelworkers union that it may close its Oklahoma City plant on or about 31 Dec. this year.

Global market forces have made it "extremely difficult, if not impossible" to make the plant competitive once again, even with "significant" capital investments, the Nashville-based tyre maker said in a statement.

BFS said it is willing to negotiate with the union about the closure. "In general, the tyre industry in the United States is facing a number of serious economic issues," said Steve Brooks, vice president of manufacturing operations for BFS. "Significant among them is fierce competition from low-cost producing countries, which has made it very difficult for US-based production facilities to manufacture tyres at a profit."

The Oklahoma City plant, BFS said, makes tyres at the low end of the market, where competition is particularly intense and demand is shrinking.

The plant began production in 1969 and produces radial passenger and light truck tyres. The plant employs more than 1420 workers.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)