A global overcapacity in the light vehicle aluminum wheel market and increasing aluminum wheel imports from low cost countries is impacting North American production, forcing Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. to close its aluminum wheel facility in Gainesville, Ga. by the end of Dec. 2008. This announcement reflects the company's overall strategy to continue to focus its business on the right products in the right geographic regions. "The phase-out is a difficult but necessary step in our overall plan to provide our customers the highest quality products at competitive prices and to improve profitability," says Curtis Clawson, president, CEO and chairman of the board. "I would like to express my appreciation to our associates in Gainesville. We will work with those affected by this decision to help them through the transition," he adds. The Gainesville facility, which began wheel production in July 1994, employs roughly 290 people. Employees were advised of the closure today during a meeting at the facility. Some of the production at the Gainesville facility will be moved to Hayes Lemmerz' aluminum wheel facility in Mexico. For more information about Hayes Lemmerz, visit the company's Web site.
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