Soft economy forces Metaldyne to close three U.S. locations

The economic dynamics of North America and an excess in manufacturing capacity has forced Metaldyne, LLC to close two of its U.S. manufacturing plants and one commercial office. This move will allow the company to adjust for excess capacity caused by lower vehicle sales from North American customers and to reduce structural costs in fiscal 2008.

"Although these are difficult actions, it is important that we gear our capacity for the production levels we anticipate this fiscal year and going forward," says Thomas Amato, Metaldyne's chairman and CEO.

The company's Farmington Hills, Mich., plant, the Greenville, N.C., plant, and the commercial office located on Genoa Court, in Plymouth, Mich. are now closed. All facilities were part of Metaldyne's North American Chassis Group which principally machines suspension components. Greenville's manufacturing production lines were transferred to Metaldyne's facility in Whitsett (Greensboro), N.C. Production from the Farmington Hills operation was moved to the company's New Castle, Ind., plant and other facilities in North America. Employees at Metaldyne's Genoa Court office were relocated into Metaldyne's operations office in Plymouth, Mich.

The owned properties are currently being marketed for disposition and the leased property will not be renewed at the end of the lease term.

Metaldyne has consistently rationalized its U.S. manufacturing footprint from 23 plants to 14 plants over the past three years to address growth outside of North America and rationalize its U.S. cost structure. The company currently has 18 manufacturing plants in the Americas, 12 in Europe, and three in Asia, although Asahi Tec, Metaldyne's parent, rounds out the balance in Asia with 13 manufacturing plants.

"We see our balanced manufacturing footprint as providing options and value to our customers to support their growth globally," says Amato.

For more information about Metaldyne, visit the company's Web site.