In a major economic blow to the Buffalo-area manufacturing landscape, Sumitomo Rubber USA’s century-old tire plant in the Town of Tonawanda announced plans to close the plant on November 7, 2024. The closure impacts around 1,500 employees.
Sumitomo Rubber USA announced it would cease operations at its Sheridan Drive facility — a longtime producer of automotive, motorcycle, and truck tires — citing mounting material and logistics costs, outdated infrastructure, and challenging market conditions that the company said it could no longer offset despite cost-cutting efforts. Production ceased immediately, but the wind-down activities could take many months.
Impact
In a press release, Sumitomo Rubber tallied the total job losses at 1,550, which includes both hourly and salaried employees.
Many of the laid-off workers were members of a local union (United Steelworkers Local 135). Dave Wasiura, director of the union, said that “…management went straight to enacting this extreme measure without coming to us is nothing short of a betrayal of its highly-skilled, dedicated workforce.”
However, in the press release, Sumitomo Rubber said that it “… implement[ed] cost-control measures, efficiency enhancements, capital investments, and other improvements over the last several years, these changes have not offset mounting financial losses at the facility.”
Next steps for employees
In response to the unexpected layoffs, Sumitomo reached an agreement with union representatives to offer separation benefits, including pay based on years of service, extended health coverage, and access to career transition services. The company also pledged support for job placement services — a small measure of relief for the impacted workforce.
Local officials and community groups moved quickly to mobilize resources for displaced workers. The New York State Department of Labor organized large job fairs in Tonawanda, drawing hundreds of former employees and potential employers in hopes of smoothing the transition to new opportunities.
A new life for the facility
Meanwhile, the future of the sprawling 2-million square-foot facility remained a major focus for regional leaders. A task force convened by Erie County officials and economic development partners has sought buyers and redevelopment strategies aimed at preserving the site’s industrial legacy while attracting diverse new uses.
In a hopeful turn, Taiwan-based Hwa Fong Rubber announced plans to purchase the former Sumitomo site with intentions to transform it into a multi-tenant industrial park. This move is anticipated to create 100 to 250 new jobs by early 2026, with the number hopefully increasing over time.
As the Tonawanda community continues its recovery, the closure stands as a stark example of the broader challenges facing legacy manufacturing in America — and the resilience of workers and local leaders determined to rebuild.
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