Goodyear Consolidates Mold Operations in Statesville, Closes Ohio Plant

Goodyear is expanding operations in Statesville as the company consolidates two of its U.S. mold manufacturing facilities into one location.

The Akron-based tire manufacturer announced it will close its Tall Timbers mold plant in Findlay, Ohio, and transfer those operations to its existing mold facility in Statesville. The move was outlined in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, letter dated Jan. 30 to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services.

As part of the consolidation, 85 jobs will be eliminated at the Ohio facility. Those positions include manufacturing technicians, technology specialists, quality technicians and area managers.

Goodyear said production from the Findlay plant will shift to Statesville, where the company currently employs about 170 workers.

While the company did not specify how staffing levels in Statesville could change, Goodyear said production and employment will align with business needs.

The Tall Timbers facility, located about 40 miles south of Toledo, is expected to shut down by March 31.

“We recognize this decision is difficult for the approximately 85 associates impacted by the closure,” Goodyear said in a statement. “Goodyear is committed to treating all impacted associates with fairness, respect and transparency while providing comprehensive support during their transition.”

According to the WARN notice, affected employees will be offered severance packages and outplacement services to help them find new jobs. The company also noted there are no bumping rights at the Ohio location.

The Findlay plant produces specialized molds used to manufacture a variety of tire types — work that will now be handled at the Statesville facility.

For Statesville and Iredell County, the consolidation positions the local plant as Goodyear’s primary U.S. mold manufacturing site and could mean increased production activity at the facility.

Goodyear has maintained a presence in Statesville for years, and the latest move further solidifies the city’s role in the company’s manufacturing operations.