Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
  • Tire Business
web
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Coronavirus
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Technical Notebooks
    • Women in Tire & Rubber
    • ITEC
    • International Elastomer Show
    • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Dana acquires electronics and software provider Pi Innovo
      Foam shortage a major concern for auto makers, seating suppliers
      Goodyear joins EASE Logistics, Ohio city to launch connected mobility pilot program
      view gallery
      6 photos
      Photos: Auto industry embraces Industry 4.0
    • Goodyear joins EASE Logistics, Ohio city to launch connected mobility pilot program
      Goodyear to raise prices on passenger tires
      Ryan Patterson to lead Goodyear-Cooper integration efforts
      Failed takeover by Apollo a distant memory for Cooper
    • Foam shortage a major concern for auto makers, seating suppliers
      New Products: Kraiburg launches advanced, ‘supersoft' TPEs
      Trelleborg divests U.K. offshore oil and gas operation
      Myers Industries raising prices citing material costs
    • Dana acquires electronics and software provider Pi Innovo
      Gelest's Barry Arkles enters National Academy of Engineering
      ECO starts 'first' U.S. silicone rubber recycling plant
      Braskem Idesa reopens PE complex in Mexico with new contract
    • Gelest's Barry Arkles enters National Academy of Engineering
      ECO starts 'first' U.S. silicone rubber recycling plant
      New legacy taking shape at Stockwell Elastomerics
      Fenner opens new textile treatment line in Pennsylvania
    • Ohio firm focuses on making better masks in U.S.
      U.S. to increase NBR, make gloves using Defense Production Act
      Tire Cologne canceled; rescheduled for 2022
      Tire Technology Expo canceled for 2021
    • Ryan Patterson to lead Goodyear-Cooper integration efforts
      New legacy taking shape at Stockwell Elastomerics
      Davis-Standard promotes Andrew Alaya to aftermarket sales role
      Harwick Standard adds Flores to West Coast sales team
    • Braskem Idesa reopens PE complex in Mexico with new contract
      To boost U.S. microchip production, Biden administration must find supply chains weaknesses
      TIA among associations against increase to minimum wage
      9 Goodyear-Cooper Tire stories you may have missed
    • Column: Value is the stuff in custom mixing
      New legacy taking shape at Stockwell Elastomerics
      Column: Discussions of race, equality may mean uncomfortable moments
      Column: Business trips possible because of essential workers
    • Part 2: Studying RPA ASTM methods for detecting compound quality differences
      Studying RPA ASTM methods for detecting compound quality differences
      Damage mechanism in oil and gas formulations during downhole testing
      Advancements in synchronous drive belt design for industrial and consumer markets
    • Rubber Division introduces WORD webinar series
      WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      New video celebrates women in rubber industry
      ITEC panelists say women can thrive in tire industry
    • Goodyear recognized by Lockheed Martin as 'elite supplier'
      EV tire advancements to help secure future
      Lambillotte: Only question on AVs is timing
      CAR official says EV future brighter than autonomous
    • Rubber Division introduces WORD webinar series
      Rubber Division seeks abstracts for 200th Technical Meeting
      WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      IEC keynote: Communication key to logistics
    • Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Faster Access to Your Polymer Compounding Experts Around the World
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Take a walk thru a HEXPOL Lab
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      HEXPOL offers a unique selection of High Performance Elastomers to match your application requirements
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      It’s what you can’t see that makes the Difference at HEXPOL
  • Blogs
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
    • New Products: Kraiburg launches advanced, ‘supersoft' TPEs
      New Products: Mahr Inc. introduces MarForm MMQ 500 Form Tester
      New Products: Starrett expands field-of-view for multi-sensor vision system
      New Products: Nova thinks outside the box with sealing tech
    • Wacky World of Rubber: How Trelleborg, teens sealed a spot in the world record book
      Wacky World of Rubber: Of chicken and feet, but not chicken feet
      Wacky World of Rubber: Time to go mattress shopping
      Wacky World of Rubber: Because nothing says football like 'frunk' shrimp
  • Newsletters
    • Rubber in Automotive
    • Silicone News
    • Latex News
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Dana acquires electronics and software provider Pi Innovo
      Foam shortage a major concern for auto makers, seating suppliers
      Goodyear joins EASE Logistics, Ohio city to launch connected mobility pilot program
      view gallery
      6 photos
      Photos: Auto industry embraces Industry 4.0
    • Gelest's Barry Arkles enters National Academy of Engineering
      ECO starts 'first' U.S. silicone rubber recycling plant
      New legacy taking shape at Stockwell Elastomerics
      Fenner opens new textile treatment line in Pennsylvania
    • Top Glove eyes new expansions with Hong Kong listing
      Sri Trang Gloves starts major capacity expansion
      Synthomer dismisses takeover reports
      Combined Goodyear-Cooper Tire company has tire technology, sustainability edge
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Directory
  • Resources
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • HB Chemical
      Sponsored By HB Chemical
      The HB Chemical and Ravago Partnership: Taking Customer Service to a New Level
      Sponsored By HB Chemical
      Above and Beyond with HB Chemical
      Sponsored By HB Chemical
      The Company Behind the Inventory
      Sponsored By French Oil Mill Machinery
      Process Improvement, Cost Reduction with Custom Press Systems
    • Sponsored By Uncountable Inc.
      Labs of the Future: How to Choose a Laboratory Information Management System in 2021
      Sponsored By Uncountable Inc.
      Cooper Standard deploys lab informatics platform to synchronize R&D
      Sponsored By Elkem
      LSR Selectâ„¢: A solution to improve your financial impact in molding applications
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Peroxide Cureable Silicone Injection Molding
  • Data
  • Events
    • RPN Events
    • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • ITEC Library
    • International Silicone Conference Library
    • 2021 Healthcare Elastomers Virtual Edition
      2021 Rubber in Automotive Virtual Edition
      2021 International Latex Conference Virtual Edition
      2022 ITEC
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Coronavirus
March 23, 2020 03:56 PM

Coronavirus upends tire production: News you may have missed

Rubber & Plastics News Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Goodyear
    A worker visually inspects a NASCAR racing tire at Goodyear's race tire plant in Akron.

    The coronavirus pandemic continues to worsen across the globe, sickening at least 336,000 people and prompting business closures in an attempt to protect employees and stop the spread of the outbreak, which has claimed more than 15,000 lives as of March 23.

    The pandemic is accelerating, according to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-gerneral of the World Health Organization.

    "It took 67 days from the first reported case to reach the first 100,000 cases, 11 days for the second 100,000 cases and just 4 days for the third 100,000 cases," he said March 23. "You can see how the virus is accelerating. But we're not prisoners to statistics. We're not helpless bystanders. We can change the trajectory of this pandemic."

    The impact is being felt by tire makers everywhere as they take recommended health and safety precautions while adjusting to disruptions in their manufacturing operations and the entire supply chain.

    Here's a look at what you may have missed:

    1. Goodyear closes plants
    Goodyear on March 17 took steps to close its tire manufacturing facilities in Europe. The next day it disclosed that it would phase out production at its North and South American facilities.

    Goodyear operates 13 tire plants throughout the Americas, employing roughly 17,000 workers.

    The European initiative includes 11 tire plants in France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland and Slovenia, which collectively employ nearly 12,000 workers, according to data published in Rubber & Plastics News' ITEC Data Package.

    Goodyear said the global closures will continue through April 3.

    2. Michelin follows suit
    Michelin on March 19 said that it temporarily would close facilities in European countries that have been most affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Two days later, the tire maker said it would move toward a "phased" suspension of production throughout the U.S. and Canada.

    When detailing its plans for North America, the tire maker noted the suspension of production would exclude "vital and critical tires for the country's economic continuity." It didn't specify which tire types or lines meet that criteria. Michelin is considered a key U.S. military supplier.

    The Greenville, S.C.-based subsidiary of the French tire giant operates a dozen tire factories in the U.S. and Canada, employing more than 13,500 hourly workers.



    ITEC

    All the tire data you need is a click away. Global Tire Company Rankings, Production Facilities list, Tire Suppliers list, tire stats and printed tire maps from the U.S. Europe, China and Asia. Learn more at rubbernews.com/data-lists.



    3. Bridgestone makes moves of its own

    After taking steps to close plants in North America and Latin America, Bridgestone Corp. said March 23 that it would take similar steps in Europe. The company will halt production at two tire plants and decrease production at six others in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Brussels-based company said its plants in Bethune, France, and Bari, Italy, will be closed until April 6.

    In the meantime, tire plants in Bilbao, Puente San Miguel and Burgos, Spain; Stargard and Poznan, Poland; and Tatabanya, Hungary, will operate with reduced capacity.

    A retread materials factory in Lanklaar, Belgium, also will reduce operations.

    In all, the plants employ about 1,000 people, including roughly 1,750 in France and Italy, and 6,500 at the other European factories.

    The changes align tire supply with predicted demand, according to Bridgestone, which says it has sufficient product on hand to meet customer needs and will keep its distribution centers, plant warehouses and logistics facilities open to fill orders.

    4. Cooper Tire takes steps to close plants

    On March 23, Findlay, Ohio-based Cooper Tire began the process of phasing down production at two plants in Melksham, England, and Krusevac, Serbia. The tire maker expects the facilities to be closed for three weeks, saying it will continue to monitor the situation and adjust timelines "as necessary."

    Two days prior, Cooper had disclosed plans to suspend production temporarily at its tire plants in the U.S. and Mexico.

    Production will be phased down "on a rolling schedule" throughout the coming week.

    Cooper said that its plants in China reopened several weeks ago and continue to increase production.

    5. Pirelli phases out production in U.S., Europe

    Pirelli Tire North America Inc. said March 20 that it would begin phasing out operations at its Rome, Ga., tire plant. The production scale-back was scheduled to begin March 22 with a full suspension of manufacturing for one week starting March 29.

    The factory will be cleaned and sanitized while closed.

    On March 23, Pirelli disclosed plans to halt production at plants in England, Italy and Romania in response to the global outbreak of COVID-19.

    6. Apollo execs take pay cuts, suspend operations

    Apollo Tyres Ltd. will stop production of passenger car tires at its plant in Enschede, Netherlands, on March 27, and switch gears to focus on specific "critical" agriculture tire sizes in response to "a strong need across Europe."

    The Gurgaon, India-based company also will stop production in Gyongyoshalasz, Hungary, starting March 28 for at least two weeks.

    In addition, last week, Apollo executives offered to take a pay cut in light of the pandemic's impact on the automotive industry. Chairman and Managing Director Onkar S. Kanwar and Vice Chairman and Managing Director Neeraj Kanwar are taking a 25 percent reduction in their salary. Other senior management have taken a voluntary 15 percent reduction in their salary in a show of solidarity.

    7. Some tire makers maintain operations
    Continental Tire The Americas L.L.C. is among the tire makers continuing to operate normally despite the COVID-19 crisis with company officials saying the situation "remains highly dynamic."

    Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc., Titan International Inc. and Nokian Tyres North America also are maintaining normal operations during the pandemic.
    Continental operates four plants in North America, including three in the U.S. and one in Mexico.

    Toyo is keeping a plant in White, Ga., open as well as a distribution center in Ontario, Calif., where the tire maker said its business operation qualifies for exemption from the state of California's stay-at-home order issued March 19.

    Toyo's manufacturing facility in Malaysia, which supplies tires to the U.S. market, was shut down last week under orders of the government there. It is the only Toyo plant that has been idled, according to the company.

    At Des Moines, Iowa-based Titan, primary facilities across North America, which includes three U.S. factories, remain open, and sales and customer service employees are available for customers.

    Meanwhile, Nokian said its plant in Dayton, Tenn., continues to operate, and the company is "taking significant precautions to protect our workers' health." The precautions include social distancing, travel and visitor restrictions; and enhanced cleaning protocols; rotating lunches and modified employee entrances and exits to minimize the volume of people in shared spaces.

    In addition, Trelleborg Wheel Systems USA has reported that its agricultural tire plant in Spartanburg, S.C., remains in operation.

    8. Triangle resumes production in China
    Triangle Tyre Co. Ltd.'s four manufacturing plants in China are operating at above 90 percent capacity following a three-week shutdown due to the Chinese New Year followed by precautions taken for the virus outbreak in China.

    Company officials said almost all employees are back at work and numerous shipping containers of Triangle tires are headed to the U.S. as the Triangle logistics department attempts to navigate obstacles created by the worldwide pandemic.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber & Plastics News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber & Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber & Plastics News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    web
    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Contact the Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Coronavirus
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Technical Notebooks
      • Women in Tire & Rubber
      • ITEC
      • International Elastomer Show
      • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • Newsletters
      • Rubber in Automotive
      • Silicone News
      • Latex News
      • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Multimedia
      • Videos
      • Photo Galleries
    • Directory
    • Resources
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Data
    • Events
      • RPN Events
      • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • ITEC Library
      • International Silicone Conference Library
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION