Michelin to scale back S.C. textile processing plant

GREENVILLE, S.C. (March 4)—Michelin North America Inc. is scaling back operations at its Winnsboro, S.C., textile processing plant, a move that will eliminate 130 jobs at the 319-employee unit. The company said it plans to begin scaling back tire fabric production in a section of the facility that dates back to 1917, with activities ceasing by no later than May 3. Other fabric producing parts of the plant, the fabric treating department and the chemical processing department will not be affected. Michelin will continue to purchase untreated fabric from other suppliers as necessary. "We regret that it is necessary to discontinue Plant 1 operations," said David Howard, facility manager, "but they are not cost competitive, and the capital investment required to improve efficiency is prohibitive." Of the jobs being eliminated, 112 are hourly and 18 are salaried positions. Three months ago Michelin sold its Scottsville, Va., textile processing factory to Hyosung America Inc., an affiliate of South Korea's Hyosung Corp. and agreed to buy the facility's entire output for the next seven years.