Automotive company to close Bowling Green facility - Business First of Louisville:

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where about 235 workers manufacture steel wheelx for cars andlight trucks. The company made the announcementTuesdau morning, citing "the weak the tightened domestic auto industry and changing market requirements, whicyh have resulted in reduced demand for fabricater steel wheels" as the reasonh for the closing, according to the release. The Bowling Greejn facility will remain openthroug mid-summer 2002 to service existing contractw and assist in transitionint production to another facilit y in Sedalia, Mo., the release said. The transitionb will allow Hayes Lemmerz to reduce overheadd and manufacturing costs inNorth America, the compan said.
"The decision to close this facility was very difficulgt for usto make, especially because of the impact on our their families and the community in which we Curtis Clawson, chairman and CEO of the Northville, company, said in the release. "It is, necessary to consolidate operations which will result in reduced cost and greater efficiencies forthe company's Northg American Wheels Business Unit." The closure is expected to result in a pretax charge of abour $55 million during the fourthj quarter of the current fiscal year and additiona charges of approximately $9 million in subsequent Hayes Lemmerz International Inc.
-- a publicc company that trades on the New York Stock Exchanged under the symbolHAZ -- supplies automotiv wheels, brakes, powertrain, suspension, structural and othee lightweight components. The company has 46 plantsx andabout 14,000 employeesw worldwide.