By Rhoda Miel, Plastics News Staff
Milan, Michigan -- Automotive Components Holdings llc is shutting down fascia production at its Milan plant, but will continue blow moulding fuel tanks at the site.
The plant is the only bumper fascia facility for ACH, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Co. of Dearborn, Michigan. It expects to end production by the end of the year, winding down operations as Ford ceases production of those vehicles being supplied by Milan, said spokeswoman Della DiPietro.
The change will cut about 200 jobs, but could also help sell the facility eventually. The Milan site was one of 17 manufacturing sites Ford bought from Visteon Corp. - its one time parts division - in 2005. Ford intended to sell or close the plants, but ended up keeping a handful of them when the industry slowed last year with plans to pursue sales as the economy improved.
The combination of injection moulding and blow moulding has made Milan difficult to market, however, since buyers interested in the fuel tank business, for instance, did not necessarily want the fascia operations, DiPietro said.
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