Henniges to close only Canada plant

BURLINGTON, Ontario—Henniges Automotive Holdings Inc. plans to close its Burlington manufacturing facility by the end of 2024 and transfer operations to existing facilities.

The move is part of Henniges' efforts to remain competitive and support customers as it faces and adjusts to "the challenging economic conditions within the automotive industry."

Jennifer VanHorn, Henniges' vice president of human resources, told Rubber News that the decision to shut the plant was carefully evaluated.

"We did not make this decision lightly," she said in an emailed statement. "The decision to close the Burlington, Ontario, plant was made after a thorough analysis of industry headwinds as well as our footprint, product demand, manufacturing equipment and customer needs."

Customers will not see a disruption in service as a result of the plant closure, Henniges said.

The Burlington plant, one of seven the company operates in North America, manufactures vehicle sealing systems. It is the only manufacturing plant the company has in Canada, according to Henniges' website.

The auto supplier has four plants in the U.S.—in Keokuk, Iowa; New Haven, Mo.; Frederick, Okla.; and Reidsville, N.C.—and two in Mexico (Terreon and Guadalajara).

Henniges noted that the Burlington plant has 220 employees who are represented by Worked United Canada Council.

A maker of sealing and anti-vibration products, Henniges is the 87th largest auto supplier in North America according to Automotive News' 2023 Supplier Ranking. The company's estimated 2022 sales somewhere around $640 million.

Henniges also is among the rubber industry's top 10 automotive supplier companies, according to Rubber News' inaugural auto supplier ranking. The Auburn Hills, Mich.-based company was one of nine suppliers in the rubber industry with estimated North American sales between $500 million and $999 million.