Alcoa Shuts Ohio Parts Plant

Pittsburgh-based Alcoa Inc. has closed down a suburban Toledo factory that fabricated lightweight aluminum auto components. The plant in Northwood, Ohio, was built less than 10 years ago.

According to a report in The (Toledo) Blade newspaper, there was a lack of orders for the windshield frames, steering components, engine brackets and other aluminum parts made for autos and light trucks at the plant.

The closing of the scrap-generating facility is somewhat offset by an announcement earlier this year that DaimlerChrysler is planning a $2.1 billion investment in its Toledo Jeep plants in the northern part of that city, building additional models and attracting new supplier factories to the region.

Toledo area economic development and labor union officials are hopeful that the soon-to-be-vacant Alcoa facility can be revived as an auto supplier plant for the Jeep effort.