Tuscaloosa's 80-Year-Old BFGoodrich Plant to Close in 2028

BFGoodrich is shutting down its longtime Tuscaloosa manufacturing plant, a move that will eliminate close to 1,200 hourly jobs, according to an employee there and others with knowledge of the news.

Workers at the plant were notified on Thursday morning when company leaders met with them and said operations will end in late 2028 after a wind-down beginning early next year.

Michelin North America said the closure is "necessary due to structural inefficiencies and increasingly competitive recreation/off-road markets."

Some work will be consolidated to another plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

“Because of the dedication of our teams in Tuscaloosa, BFGoodrich Tires is celebrated as a pioneering American brand, and an enduring symbol of car and truck culture,” said Terry Redmile, Michelin’s senior vice president for manufacturing operations in the Americas. “Due to the size, footprint and infrastructure of the Fort Wayne factory, that site is better positioned to consolidate the capacity and meet future demands for the success of BFGoodrich Tires. Unfortunately, we could not identify any feasible structure that would enable us to continue operating in Tuscaloosa while also supporting long-term value creation across our factories in North America.”

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The Tuscaloosa plant has deep roots in the community. It was originally constructed to produce materials during World War II and manufactured its first tire on Oct. 23, 1946.

When the company celebrated 75 years of manufacturing at the 1.6 million-square-foot facility on 21st Street, BFGoodrich said it employed 1,400 people there, making it one of Tuscaloosa's largest employers.

The plant has also long been a community fixture, serving as one of the city's first Adopt-A-School partners and supporting workforce development programs such as the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama's Worlds of Work initiative.

" As the wind-down process is completed, Michelin North America intends to collaborate with public and private stakeholders to explore new missions for the Tuscaloosa site, keeping in focus its stewardship and commitment to the community’s long-term success," the parent company said Thursday.

This is a developing story, and the Thread will provide updates as more information becomes available.

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