By Rhoda Miel, Plastics News staff
Howell, Michigan -- Magna International Inc. is still trying to determine the extent of damage to equipment at its Howell, Michigan, interior parts plant, where fire extensively tore through the building 2 and 3 March.
Firefighters were still in the plant more than 12 hours after the fire began, said Magna spokeswoman Tracy Fuerst in a 3 March telephone interview, so the company has not been able to determine whether it can rescue moulds and other equipment.
Magna, based in Aurora, Ontario, is in talks and trying to make preliminary plans with both suppliers and customers to ensure regular deliveries to automakers, she said. The plant makes a variety of interior parts for General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co., Chrysler Group llc, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd and Mazda Motor Corp.
The fire began somewhere near a spray urethane production cell during the second shift at Howell, but firefighters have not determined what caused it, Fuerst said.
Magna has also told its more than 400 employees in Howell to stay home until further notice, and set up a hotline to keep them informed.
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