WAVERLY, W.Va. (AP) -- Cabot Corp. has shut down its carbon black plant in Waverly because of changes in the tire manufacturing industry.
Boston-based Cabot said Monday that the plant ceased operations March 31.
Carbon black is used to reinforce rubber. Cabot says it is reducing its production capacity because tire manufacturing is shrinking in North America while growing in China and other countries in the Asian Pacific region and South America.
Cabot had announced the plant's closure in June and said 48 employees would be affected.
