FINDLAY, Ohio (Oct. 21, 2008) — Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. likely will restructure its U.S. tire manufacturing operations after conducting a three-month capacity study of its U.S. plants.
The tire company will review each of its U.S. plants and analyze them for their long-term financial benefits, labor relations and productivity. The company said the study probably will result in capacity consolidation and geographical production shifts.
Cooper CEO Roy Armes said economic conditions, including demand for replacement tires, are more difficult than when the company initially developed the plan, which has resulted in surplus capacity in U.S. facilities.