LIGONIER, Ind.—Auto supplier Vibracoustic A.G. plans to shutter its manufacturing plant in Ligonier, a move that is expected to impact about 85 employees.
A WARN noticed filed Nov. 22 with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development notes that the closure should be finalized by April 30, 2021. All of the positions at the facility will be terminated, but employees will be eligible for transfer to new roles at other Vibracoustic locations, according to the letter.
Rubber & Plastics News has contacted Vibracoustic asking for comment and additional information.
The Indiana facility is one of five manufacturing sites Darmstadt, Germany-based Vibracoustic operates in the U.S. The company has two sites in Carmi, Ill., and one each in Sandusky, Mich. and Morganfield, Ky., according to the company website.
Engineering and administrative sites are located in both Farmington Hills and South Haven, Mich.
Closure of the Ligonier plant will come almost exactly one year after the company disclosed plans to expand operations in China. In April 2020, Vibracoustic confirmed that it intended to build a third production facility in Chongqing, China, as part of an effort to meet growing automotive demand in the region.
That project is set to be completed in 2021.
Vibracoustic, a subsidiary of Freudenberg & Co. K.G., is dedicated to the development and manufacturing of noise, vibration and harshness solutions for drivetrain and chassis applications. The company operates 43 production sites across 19 countries, employing about 10,000 globally. Last year, it posted sales of about $1.88 billion.
Freudenberg has mulled the idea of taking Vibracoustic public for several years. It floated the idea in 2018 with the hopes of an initial public offering in 2019.
