It's quiet out on State Route 345, but the news hitting the local grapevine is anything but. For decades, the Cooper Standard plant has been a landmark in New Lexington, Ohio—a place where shifts changed like clockwork and generations of families found a steady paycheck. But that’s changing. Fast.
If you’ve driven past the facility lately, you might not see the panic, but the paperwork tells a different story. Cooper Standard recently filed a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notice, confirming what many feared: the Cooper Standard New Lexington Ohio facility is shutting down for good. This isn't just another corporate "restructuring" buzzword. It's a massive blow to Perry County, affecting 228 workers who are now staring down a very uncertain 2026.
What’s Actually Happening at the New Lexington Plant?
Let’s get into the weeds. This isn't a "maybe" situation. The company is permanently shuttering the doors. According to the official filings, the first wave of layoffs is scheduled to begin right around February 6, 2026.
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They aren't ripping the Band-Aid off all at once, though. The plan is a phased exit. They expect to have the entire place empty and the keys turned over by July 1, 2027. Basically, if you work there, or know someone who does, the clock is officially ticking.
Why now? Honestly, the company says it's about "optimizing their manufacturing footprint." In plain English, they’re looking at their maps and realizing they can save a buck by moving this production elsewhere. They’ve mentioned relocating the equipment and the business to other existing Cooper Standard sites across the U.S. to boost efficiency. It makes sense on a balance sheet in Northville, Michigan (where they're headquartered), but it feels a lot different when you’re the one losing your seniority at the local plant.
The Human Cost: 228 Families and UAW Local 1686
We’re talking about 193 hourly workers and 35 salaried professionals. That’s engineers, quality managers, and the folks on the line who actually make the parts. Most of these workers are represented by UAW Local 1686, and their contract includes something called "bumping rights."
If you aren't familiar with union lingo, bumping rights are a bit of a safety net. It means a senior employee whose job is getting axed can potentially take the spot of someone with less seniority to stay employed. It’s a messy, stressful process, but it’s one of the few cards these workers have left to play.
- Layoff Start: February 2026
- Total Jobs Lost: 228
- Final Closure Date: July 2027
- Union Status: UAW Local 1686 active
Cooper Standard has said they’ll offer transfer opportunities to other facilities, but let’s be real—moving your whole life from New Lexington to another state or even another part of Ohio isn't exactly a simple weekend project.
What Do They Actually Make There?
It’s easy to think of "auto parts" as just generic metal bits, but the New Lexington site specializes in some pretty technical stuff. Specifically, they've been a hub for fluid handling systems and sealing systems.
Think about your car. It’s full of tubes, hoses, and seals that keep your brakes working and your fuel moving. That’s what’s coming off the lines here. They work with complex polymers and rubber-to-metal bonding. They even produce specialized tubing that ends up in vehicles all over the world. The expertise in that building is immense. You can't just replace decades of "tribal knowledge" about how those machines run overnight.
Why This Matters for the Rest of Ohio
Perry County has been working hard to diversify its economy, especially with all the talk about coal communities transitioning to new industries. Losing a major employer like Cooper Standard is a massive step backward. When 228 well-paid jobs vanish, the local diners, gas stations, and grocery stores feel it too.
It’s part of a broader, kinda scary trend in the Midwest. We saw Stellantis and GM making massive cuts and closure charges in 2025, and now 2026 is starting off with this. The shift toward Electric Vehicles (EVs) is a huge factor here. While Cooper Standard is winning new contracts for EV platforms, those new parts don't always need the same manufacturing setups as the old internal combustion engine components. New Lexington is, unfortunately, on the wrong side of that transition.
Navigating the Transition: What’s Next?
If you are currently employed at the plant, the next 60 days are the most critical. Under the WARN Act, the company has to give at least 60 days' notice before mass layoffs, which they've technically done with their December and January filings.
Immediate Steps for Employees:
- Check Your Seniority: Talk to your UAW Local 1686 rep about Article 7, Section 9 of the collective bargaining agreement. That’s where the "bumping" rules live.
- Transfer Eligibility: Get the specifics on which other Cooper Standard plants are accepting transfers and what the relocation assistance (if any) looks like.
- Retraining Resources: Keep an eye on the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. They usually roll out "Rapid Response" teams for closures like this to help with resume building and finding new gigs.
The reality is that New Lexington is losing a piece of its industrial heart. It’s a tough pill to swallow for a town that has already seen its fair share of ups and downs. While the company moves its equipment to "optimize efficiency," the people left behind are the ones left doing the real work of figuring out what comes next.
Actionable Insights for the Community:
Impacted workers should immediately document their specific certifications (especially in fluid systems and polymer manufacturing) to leverage in the growing aerospace or medical tubing sectors in other parts of Ohio. Local business owners should prepare for a dip in discretionary spending starting in Q1 2026 and look into state-level small business support programs designed for communities facing industrial contraction.