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[taxthedeer]

It was announced today that Federal Mogul Wiper Products will cease operations at it's Michigan City plant at 402 Royal Rd by the end of 2012.

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/fed...08c0cad8f8.html

Federal Mogul leaving Michigan City for Mexico
• By Stan Maddux Times Correspondent


A company that makes wiper blades has decided to leave Michigan City for Mexico.

Federal Mogul told its 100 employees Wednesday about its intention to leave by the end of the year.

Local officials are hoping to convince the company to stay.

''We've already reached out to them in several ways,'' said Kevin Kieft, executive director of the Michigan City Economic Development Corp.

Federal Mogul is a worldwide maker of automobile parts, including wiper blades.

Jim Burke, director of corporate communications for Federal Mogul, said the plant on Michigan City's east side makes strictly wiper blades and will be merged with another wiper blade manufacturing facility belonging to the company in Juarez, Mexico.

He said the plant in Mexico has enough capacity to pick up the production from Michigan City in a move geared toward increasing efficiency and reducing costs.

''This is part of a company strategy to consolidate our wiper manufacturing capacity. It's certainly unfortunate we need to make this decision,'' Burke said.

In 2009, steel cable and assembly manufacturer Sanlo Inc. announced it was leaving Michigan City then a year later decided to stay.

That's something local officials pointed to in launching a bid to retain Federal Mogul at a facility with a long history of making wiper blades formerly owned by Anco.

Federal Mogul less than a decade ago revealed a desire to leave but stayed after reducing a workforce by more than several hundred.

''It's very disappointing but we are going to do everything we can to see if there's anything we can do to keep them here,'' said Michigan City Mayor Ron Meer.

He said tax abatement and low interest loans are among the things that can help the company.

"I think it's very important American companies and industries consider the effect it has when they pull their operations out of the United States and go to another country,'' Meer said.

Burke said Federal Mogul has two other wiper blade manufacturing sites in Europe. The company has a total of 45,000 employees in more than 30 countries.