GREENVILLE, S.C. (March 27, 2002)—Michelin North America Inc. will phase out processing of steel tire cord and bead wire at its Sandy Springs, S.C., plant over the next two years and permanently shut the facility in early 2004 because it no longer is cost-competitive.
The closing will affect about 300 employees, some of whom are in line for new jobs being created at other South Carolina facilities.
Michelin intends to consolidate much of its production at its other steel processing facilities in Scottsberg, Ind., and Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
The Sandy Springs site also includes a 730-employee rubber processing operation, which will not be affected by the closing.
“We are announcing the closing now, some two years before the actual shutdown, to give employees ample time to find other jobs within Michelin,” a Michelin spokeswoman said.
The Sandy Springs tire cord and bead manufacturing facility opened in 1978.