Cooper to Close Athens, US Retread Plant

(Akron/Tire Review) Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has taken the first steps toward closing its Athens, Georgia, retread rubber and racing tyre plant by the end of summer. The news comes after the yremaker filed paperwork with the Security and Exchange Commission outlining the write-down it expects to take as a result of the action.

Cooper said it would close the plant within “2 to 3 months,” putting some 140 employees out of work. The tyremaker said its own evaluation showed the plants production of race tyres and retread stock could be absorbed by its other facilities.

Cooper acquired the plant when it bought out Oliver Rubber Co., and in August 2004 it announced an $11 million investment at the plant to add race tyre production, including Avon-branded tyres for The Tire Rack and Mickey Thompson-branded DOT street radials.