The history of the Uniroyal plant in Maryville, Missouri (often mixed up with Maryville, Tennessee due to local tire dealerships) centers on a light industrial hose and rubber manufacturing facility that operated during the mid-to-late 20th century. [1, 2, 3]
The plant’s progression transitioned through a few key historical phases:
Key Historical Milestones
- Operations & Workforce: In the 1970s and early 1980s, Uniroyal, Inc. operated a manufacturing facility in Maryville, Missouri. The plant typically maintained a steady local workforce of approximately 160 production employees and focused on rubber fabrication rather than the company’s flagship automotive tires. [1]
- Relocation (1983): Following corporate restructuring, Uniroyal officially shut down operations at the Maryville location in 1983 and moved its local machinery and regional manufacturing footprint nearby to Red Oak, Iowa. [1]
- The Site’s Legacy: The departure left a large industrial vacancy in the community. However, in June 1989, Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing took over the former manufacturing footprint to open its major Maryville Plant. Many former Uniroyal workers eventually transition to jobs at Kawasaki, which continues to produce small utility engines on-site. [1, 2]