PLYMOUTH, Mich. -- Metaldyne, LLC has completed the closure of two of its U.S. manufacturing plants and a commercial office to adjust for excess capacity due to lower vehicle sales from North American customers and to reduce structural costs in fiscal 2008.

"The economic dynamics in North America has created production softness for some time in the States, resulting in excess manufacturing capacity," said Thomas Amato, Metaldyne Chairman and CEO, and Asahi Tec co-CEO. "Although these are difficult actions, it is important that we gear our capacity for the production levels we anticipate this fiscal year and going forward."

The company's Farmington Hills, Mich., plant, the Greenville, N.C., plant, and the commercial office in Plymouth, Mich., are now closed. The facilities were part of Metaldyne's North American Chassis Group which principally machines suspension components.

Greenville's manufacturing production lines were transferred to Metaldyne's facility in Whitsett, N.C. Production from the Farmington Hills operation was moved to the company's New Castle, Ind., plant and other facilities in North America. Employees at the commercial office were relocated into Metaldyne's operations office in Plymouth, Mich.