NOVI, Mich. — Due to overcapacity in the North American automotive industry, Cooper-Standard Automotive has announced it will permanently close its hose manufacturing facility located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Bowling Green hose operation employs approximately 200 people and manufactures low-pressure rubber hoses for a variety of automakers.
The company said the decision to close the plant follows an extensive review of the Cooper-Standard’s current hose manufacturing capacity, as well as future market trends and forecasts for vehicle production rates in North America. As a result of this analysis, the Cooper-Standard management team determined there is not sufficient production volume to continue operating all three of its North American hose facilities.
The current Bowling Green hose business will be moved to Cooper Standard’s existing facilities in Mt. Sterling, Ky., and Atlacomulco, Mexico. Both facilities produce similar products to the Bowling Green facility and can quickly incorporate the transferred business, the company noted. Relocation of the facility’s business and equipment into existing Cooper Standard locations will occur over the next 12 months.
