Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe Limited, a subsidiary of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., has announced that it will enter a consultation period to explore ceasing light vehicle tire production at its Melksham site in Wiltshire, England over a period of 10 months.
Light vehicle tires currently produced in Melksham can be obtained by Cooper Tire Europe from other sites within Cooper’s global manufacturing footprint to meet customer needs. The goal of the proposed change is to ensure Cooper Tire Europe is best placed for future success in a cost-competitive, globalized environment, Cooper said in a press release.
Following consultation, if light vehicle tire production at Melksham is phased out, approximately 300 positions out of 732 across Cooper Tire Europe could ultimately be eliminated. Melksham would remain the home of Cooper Tire Europe’s headquarters, sales and marketing offices, Europe Technical Centre and materials business. Cooper expects that production of motorsports and motorcycle tires would also continue in Melksham.
“We know the prospect of making positions redundant is difficult for our colleagues and the local community to consider,” said Jaap van Wessum, general manager of Cooper Tire Europe. “Yet, for Cooper Tire Europe to thrive into the long-range future, remaining a large Melksham-based employer, and meeting our obligations, we must explore obtaining light vehicle tires from locations other than Melksham.”
Van Wessum said if positions are eliminated, Cooper will remain committed to supporting those employees who may potentially be affected including consulting with its recognized trade union, Unite, and other employee representatives. In addition, Cooper will work closely with the Wiltshire Council and the Department for Work and Pensions to provide support to the community and its employees.
Cooper said the Melksham site is an older, smaller facility that does not offer economies of scale and is the highest cost facility in the global Cooper network. Due to facility age and location in the center of town, Cooper said it views the site as not economically feasible to modernize or expand for light vehicle tire production, pending consultation.
“It is important to underscore that if we ultimately cease light vehicle tire production in Melksham, Cooper is not leaving the Melksham community. It is the home of Cooper Tire Europe’s headquarters, sales and marketing offices, Europe Technical Centre, and materials business. We plan to continue manufacturing specialized motorsports and motorcycle tires at the Melksham plant,” said Van Wessum.
For more information, visit www.CTEMelkshamInfo.co.uk
