Unique Fabricating Inc. plans to close its Port Huron, Mich., facility in March as part of an effort to streamline operations, improve efficiency and position the company for further growth.
The move will impact seven employees, and Unique said it would provide severance and transition assistance to those workers.
"The contributions from the Port Huron team played a key role in the Intasco integration effort, and I would like to thank each of our employees at this facility for their commitment, service and ongoing support," Unique Fabricating CEO John Weinhardt said in a statement.
Unique said that it planned to close the site before the lease expires. Any production scheduled for the Port Huron facility will be transferred to the firm's existing sites in Auburn Hills, Mich.; Louisville, Ky.; and London, Ontario.
Auburn Hills-based Unique purchased Intasco Corp., a supplier of precision die cut parts, in 2016. The acquisition included Port Huron and London sites.
"The consolidation of this facility into existing plants streamlines our operations and places our organization in a better geographical position to grow at expected higher volumes in the future," Weinhardt said. "I am confident this rationalization of our production facilities will make us a stronger organization overall and is the best long-term solution for Unique Fabricating and our shareholders."
Costs incurred as a result of closure total between $100,000 and $300,000. The firm said it expects to pay between $50,000 and $100,000 for severance costs, and likely will pay $50,000 to $100,000 for equipment relocation and closing considerations.
Savings from the move are expected to exceed $200,000 annually.
Investors, Unique said, will learn more during the fourth quarter and year-end 2017 earnings conference call, but did not specify when that would be.
Unique Fabricating engineers and manufactures multi-material foam, rubber, and plastic components utilized in noise, vibration and harshness management and air/water sealing applications for the automotive and industrial appliance market.
