Michelin to cut 1,200 jobs in Spain
TRES CANTO, Spain-Group Michelin, seeking to enhance productivity in its European operations, will make manufacturing changes in its Neumaticos Michelin S.A. operations that will result in the reduction in Spain of about 400 jobs a year for the next three years.
The restructuring includes steadily converting capacity at the plant in Valladolid, Spain, to larger-sized agricultural tires at the expense of smaller farm tires and passenger tires. Michelin said it also plans to phase out a wheel factory in Aranda de Duero over the coming two to three years, consolidating production at plants in Germany and France.
Matador to make tires for Nokian
NOKIA, Finland-Slovakia's Matador A.S. will make Nokian-branded summer tires for Finland's Nokian Tyres P.L.C. under a contract manufacturing agreement the two companies have signed.
Matador will make S-, T- and H-rated summer tires at its factory in Puchov, Slovakia, for distribution in eastern European markets. Production capacity freed up at Nokian's Nokia factory will be converted to make ultra-high-performance tires.
The contract initially is for three years and is renewable annually thereafter, Nokian said.
Michelin restarts Algerian plant
CLERMONT-FERRAND, France-Group Michelin has restarted production at its Hussein Dey truck tire plant in Algiers, Algeria, which had been mothballed since 1993 due to political turmoil in the former French colony. The reopened unit has 290 employees.