Sumitomo Rubber announces Tonawanda plant closure, over 1,500 employees affected

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Sumotomo Rubber on Thursday announced via its website that it will be closing the facility in Tonawanda. The plant previously manufactured tires for cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles.According to a release on the company's website, the closure "follows an extended examination of the viability of the facility," including analysis of business complexities, costs, dated infrastructure, intermittent financial performance and changing market conditions.
The release said the