Slow demand forces Titan to lay off 60 (Last in a series of 150 layoffs at 3 midwestern plants)

Rubber News ^ | December 19, 2012 | Mike McNulty

[2ndDivisionVet]

FREEPORT, Ill.—Titan International Inc. has laid off about 60 workers at its plant in Freeport because of slumping demand for construction tires.

The cuts are the last in a series of layoffs that began shortly before the November election at the company's three U.S. tire plants, according to Titan CEO Maurice Taylor Jr. All the cutbacks are part of the firm's construction tire segment.

Quincy, Ill.-headquartered Titan's tire factories in Bryan, Ohio, and Des Moines, Iowa, also experienced layoffs during the past two months, about 90 between the two facilities, Taylor said...

[2ndDivisionVet]

I thought we were being told that construction is picking up?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Titan has tried to sell tire/wheel combinations to tractor makers.

[2ndDivisionVet]

My first wife worked as the head of applicant testing in HR at the Des Moines plant during a strike in the 1990’s. Half a dozen union goons appeared on my back deck one night, took one look at me (6 ft, 325lbs) and my Winchester Model 50 and thought better of it. LOL From then on, the security company hired for the strike protected our house and escorted her to and from work.

[stars & stripes forever]

I believe this is a non-event. Titan has always laid people off during their slow season.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I’ve been a supplier to Titan and observer of this plant since it was owned by Armstrong. The rubber unions in Des Moines have always been a fu*ked up bunch of morons. And, local management over the years has not been helpful.