MANCHESTER, Conn. (AP) -- A manufacturer of high-speed electronic cables is closing its plant and will lay off 132 workers as it consolidates with a recently opened factory in Mexico.

 

St. Louis-based Belden Inc. announced Tuesday that it expects its Mohawk cable production plant in Manchester to close by September, saving the company $5 million a year. A spokeswoman says the closing is part of a consolidation of North American manufacturing operations to cut costs.

 

The Manchester plant manufactures copper cables for data-transmitting networks and has operated since 1993. Belden acquired the plant in a 2004 merger with Cable Design Technologies Corp.

 

Belden said it will offer severance and outplacement benefits to the laid-off workers.