Goodyear ponders investment at Topeka plant

Rubber & Plastics News

Akron - Goodyear said it is considering making additional investments of as much as $250 million (Euro 185 million) into its off-the-road tyre business at its Topeka, Kansas, plant.

The tyre maker said it is asking the state of Kansas for about $38 million in incentives to support the potential investment to increase radial OTR tyre capacity at the facility. The investment in technology upgrades could occur in two phases over six years.

Goodyear said the request is similar to support it received from Kansas in 2002 for a modernization project in the medium radial truck section of the factory.

The company wouldn't comment on an Associated Press report that quoted state Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley as saying the state would lose 600 to 700 jobs at Topeka if it didn't agree to the incentives.

“Our position is that the investment would help the plant to be a more competitive and viable facility for the future, but we have not made comments related to jobs,” a Goodyear spokeswoman said.

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Press release from Rubber & Plastics News (a Crain publication)