Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. says it’s planning to move “the majority” of TBR tire production at its Danville, Va., plant to “other facilities within its footprint.”
The transfer is part of the Akron, Ohio-based tiremaker’s global transformation plan, a Goodyear spokesperson confirmed.
“Goodyear plans to refocus the Danville, Va., facility on mixing and the aviation sector. As part of that, Goodyear is discussing staffing impacts at its Danville facility with the United Steelworkers. The company’s goal is to strengthen the Danville plant’s competitiveness and preserve as many jobs as possible.”
Opened in 1966, the Danville facility is one of two commercial medium truck tire plants within Goodyear’s North American manufacturing network. According to MTD research, it can build up to 11,000 medium truck tires per day. It also builds aircraft tires.
Goodyear’s TBR tire production plant in Topeka, Kan., has the capacity to manufacture 5,500 units per day.
Goodyear officials have not revealed which of the company's factories will pick up Danville’s TBR tire production.
Earlier this week, Goodyear announced it has entered into an agreement to sell its Dunlop brand to Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd.
