Cooper begins Mexico plant production restart

Cooper has begun the process of restarting its tyre manufacturing plant in El Salto, Mexico. The manufacturer said it is restarting production on a limited basis today. It states that it has “put in place a comprehensive set of procedures that include required employee health disclosures, increased cleaning and disinfecting of facilities and equipment, social distancing and physical barriers, visitor restrictions, and other measures.” These measures are aligned with the company’s “first priority of employee health and safety,” it added.

The plant was closed temporarily due to the impact of Coronavirus lockdown on 21 March. Cooper originally announced that employees and operations would return at the facility in April, though commented that the situation was fluid.

In the UK, Cooper said it would restart its manufacturing plant in Melksham, Wiltshire, in the first half of June, producing tyres by the middle of the month. The facility, which primarily manufactures motorcycle and racing tyres, has been temporarily closed since late March due to coronavirus.

Similar procedures have been in effect at Cooper plants in China, the United States and Serbia, all of which reopened after temporary closures, and are ramping up tyre production according to demand, which has been impacted industry wide by coronavirus. Throughout the global pandemic, Cooper’s distribution centers around the globe have continued to supply its customers, the company added.

Cooper completed the acquisition of the joint venture El Salto plant, Corporación de Occidente S. A. de C.V. (COOCSA) earlier in 2020, following an agreement to increase its shareholding from 58 to 100 per cent announced on 1 November 2019.