Tag: factory closure
TPCATS closes UK operations
T P Engineering Ltd (TPCATS) is closing its UK operations. The news emerged after the company wrote to customers to confirm that the board of directors of Fabriscape LDA, the owners of T P Engineering Ltd have taken the decision to stop manufacturing Catalytic Converters and Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) in the UK. Closure is expected during the next three weeks.
Arlanxeo to close its Orange, Texas Keltan production unit
Arlanxeo intends to close its Keltan production unit in Orange, Texas, USA in the second quarter of 2020. Arlanxeo says it will “strive to limit the impact of the closure by working in close cooperation with all affected stakeholders, both internally and externally”.
Michelin to close truck tyre factory in France
The Michelin Group informed the 619 employees at its tyre production facility in La Roche-sur-Yon, France this morning that it will close the site by the end of next year. In addition, 74 people at Michelin’s Cholet plant, employees working in roles related to the supply of rubber mixed to the La Roche-sur-Yon site, are also affected by the closure.
Michelin closing Bamberg tyre plant in Germany
Earlier today, the Michelin Group informed the 858 people employed in its tyre factory in Bamberg, Germany that they will close the plant in stages between now and the start of 2021. Michelin states that this decision “comes after a consultation phase” with the plant’s works council in accordance with German legislation.
Pirelli plant to close as part of Brazil investment
Pirelli is investing in production modernisation in Brazil, and as was recently the case at Goodyear in Germany, there are winners and losers. The latter includes the workforce at the company’s motorcycle tyre plant in Gravataí, Rio Grande do Sul, which is expected to close sometime in the next couple of years.
Infiniti withdrawing from Europe by 2020
Infiniti Motor Company has announced a restructuring plan that will result in its withdrawal from Western Europe in early 2020. In practical terms this means production of the Q30 and QX30, which are made at the Nissan plant in Sunderland, UK will cease by mid-2019.
Ben offers help those affected by factory closures
Following the closure announcement relating to Honda’s Swindon plant as well as the closure and scaling back of production at a number of other automotive factories and their suppliers, Carol Keller, communications director at Ben – the charity and support service for the automotive sector – extended the charity’s offer of help to those affected:
Honda closes Swindon car factory
Following media reports the day before, on 19 February Honda confirmed it will close its Swindon car manufacturing facility with the loss of around 3500 jobs. According to Honda, the closure forms part of wider global restructuring plans. Honda also said the news comes as the Japanese firm “accelerates its commitment to electrified cars, in response to the unprecedented changes in the global automotive industry”.
William and Kate meet with Michelin staff in Dundee
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have met with Michelin Dundee stakeholders as part of a visit to officially open Dundee's V&A Museum of Design.
Goodyear shutters Venezuela factory
Goodyear Tire and Rubber has ceased tyre production Venezuela. In a statement the company said the local economy and US sanctions were behind halting production:
First meeting: Michelin Dundee Action Group
Work to find a sustainable future for the Michelin Dundee plant is now underway – after Scotland’s Economy Secretary Derek Mackay convened the first meeting of the Michelin Dundee Action Group yesterday. Meeting in Dundee, Mackay tasked the group with exploring what can be done to retain the plant in Dundee and how it could be repurposed in the future towards manufacturing related activity.
Michelin Dundee closure: Scotland’s Economy Secretary convening action group
Scotland’s Finance and Economy Secretary, Derek Mackay, held urgent talks yesterday with trade unions and the management of Michelin Tyre Company Ltd. to discuss the future of the Dundee car tyre plant, following confirmation of Michelin’s intention to close the plant by 2020.
Dundee closure ‘supports Michelin’s intent to accelerate cost savings’ – analyst report
An analyst report published by Jefferies International Limited has stated that the closure of Michelin’s Dundee plant “supports [the company’s] intent to accelerate cost savings during 2019-20.” Presenting its nine-month 2018 results in October, Michelin warned that demand had deflated in the car and truck markets and it was revising down its guidance; subsequently Michelin shares fell to a seven-year low.
Schaeffler Group to scale back UK manufacturing, logistics presence
The Schaeffler Group, best known to us as major shareholder (through holding company IHO Group) in tyre and automotive systems manufacturer Continental, has announced its intention to close two of its three plants in the UK. And Brexit, in part at least, is to blame.
Brexit OE tyre red-alert
Is Brexit going to wreak havoc on the automotive business or is it all just another millennium bug flash-in-the-pan? If a no-deal withdrawal does spell havoc, is it going to impact the tyre business as much as the OEMs?
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