Meritor Suspension Systems Co., a joint venture between ArvinMeritor Inc. and Mitsubishi Steel Manufacturing, announced Thursday, March 5, that it plans to close its coil spring operations in Milton, Ontario. The company met with union officials of the Canadian Auto Workers Local 1067 to discuss the closure plans, which will impact all 165 employees.
“We are experiencing unprecedented economic pressure within the global automotive industry,” says Gerald Anderson, MSSC president and general manager. “This closure reflects actions we are taking to reduce fixed costs in response to significantly lower vehicle production volumes.”
The company says it currently is evaluating the transfer of Milton business to the other two MSSC facilities in Chatham, Ontario, and Hopkinsville, Ky. The phased closure is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2009.
The MSSC joint venture, formed in 1986, produces steel torsion and stabilizer bars and coil springs for the North American passenger car and light-truck markets. ArvinMeritor owns 57 percent of the joint venture.
