Taiwanese rubber company to buy former Sumitomo Rubber plant
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Taiwan-based rubber company intends to buy the former Sumitomo Rubber plant in Tonawanda that closed last year, it was announced on Tuesday.
Hwa Fong Rubber, a tire-making company, will also make wheel parts, transmissions, chassis and "other components" at the Sheridan Drive facility.
Sumitomo closed the plant in November 2024, causing over 1,500 layoffs of salaried and unionized workers. Hwa Fong buying the plant will result in somewhere between 100 and 250 jobs, with "hopes for additional and substantial job creation from future operators." Sumitomo Rubber confirmed the purchase Tuesday morning.
“HF Tonawanda Industrial Park is a natural evolution for the former Sumitomo Rubber USA plant location," Hwa Fong CEO Alex Chiu said in a news release Tuesday. "We believe this property can successfully transform into a future hub of manufacturing activity and innovation that contributes to both the Western New York and New York State economies."
Sumitomo Rubber, which manufactured tires for cars, trucks and motorcycles at the Tonawanda plant, has not fully left Western New York. It announced plans last month to open a technical center in Getzville for design and product testing.
The Tonawanda plant will be Hwa Fong's second location in the United States, with the other plant located in Covington, Ga., outside of Atlanta. In addition to its headquarters in Taiwan, it has locations in Thailand and China.
The deal is expected to close by the end of the year.
Aidan Joly was named News 4's Digital Executive Producer in 2025. He has been on staff since 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.
