DEARBORN, Mich. - Ford Motor Co. announced Monday that it will idle its Cleveland Casting Plant in 2009, as part of the company’s restructuring plan for its North American auto business, affecting the jobs of 1,218 workers.
The company will also cease production at its Cleveland Engine Plant #1 for about 12 months, beginning in two weeks, although work could resume sooner based on market demand. The Cleveland Engine Plant #1 has 577 employees.
Ford’s Duratec 3.5-liter engine now will be produced at its Lima, Ohio, engine plant to better utilize capacity and improve overall productivity, the company said.
“These are difficult actions, and we’re approaching them with great sensitivity because they involve our people,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s vice president of North America Manufacturing. “However, operating an efficient and competitive manufacturing business is a key to our Way Forward plan to transform our business back to sustained profitability.”
Cleveland Casting produces cast-iron components for engines for Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks, Ford E-Series vans and Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs.
Ford’s decision to idle Cleveland Casting is in line with the company’s move away from in-house casting operations. The company also has announced that it will end casting production at Ford facilities in Leamington, UK and Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Ford's second engine plant, Cleveland Engine Plant #2, will continue to operate. It currently has 785 workers.
