Sumitomo Rubber to open technical center in Getzville

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Sumitomo Rubber announced Tuesday its plans to open a technical center in Getzville for design and product testing.

The announcement follows the company’s closure of its Tonawanda plant last November, which affected 1,550 employees. The plant manufactured tires for cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles. Its closure followed “an extended examination of the viability of the facility” and took both employees and local leaders by surprise.

Forty engineers and other salaried employees will be hired under Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (SRI), according to a news release, and 10 employees will work out of Huntsville, Ala., at SRI America’s test track.

The new technical center will support research and development initiatives for passenger, motorcycle and light truck tires through technical benchmarking, product design, simulation and analysis, materials development and on-vehicle testing, a spokesperson said.

“This facility will position our team to positively impact wider company efforts in the Americas, while at the same time offering dynamic employment opportunities for existing talent and future professionals from partner educational institutions within the local economy,” said Wataru Isaka, the senior vice president of SRI America, Inc.

WIVB News 4 reached out to SRI America for comment on when and where the center is opening and are waiting to hear back.