Cooper Standard Plant Still Going Strong In Archbold

The closure of Archbold's Cooper Standard plant may wait until 2009, a company offi cial said this week.

In an email message, Barry Von Lanken, manager of marketing services, said limited production is still underway at the plant, which makes smalldiameter tubing for the auto industry.

Currently the plant employs 110 workers, down about half from the 215 that were working in the plant in January 2007.

That was the month the company announced it would close the Archbold plant.

It was anticipated then the company would shut down operations in the third quarter of this year.

Von Lanken said, "The plant is running limited production, and may be doing so through the end of the year, or possibly into the first quarter of 2009."

He said some of the manufacturing equipment has been transferred to other Cooper- Standard operations in North America.

The Archbold plant is currently for sale.

"As part of the closure process, we will evaluate all potential alternatives, including a sale of the facility," Von Lanken said.