COLUMBUS — An auto parts manufacturing plant that has operated in Bartholomew County for nearly 40 years will shut its doors permanently by the end of the year, leaving 150 employees out of work.
PMG Indiana, located at 1751 Arcadia Drive, filed a formal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development confirming the facility will permanently cease operations by December 31.
Phased Layoffs and Financial Struggles
According to the WARN notice, the plant will begin a gradual reduction of production and workforce starting November 1, with affected staff receiving a 14-day notice prior to termination.
Internal notices posted at the facility and shared by employees on social media reveal the plant has faced severe financial difficulties, accumulating over $150 million in losses over the last eight years. Following price increases implemented earlier this year, several major customers informed the company they were taking their business elsewhere.
The 186,000-square-foot facility designs and produces powder metal components and sub-assemblies for automotive powertrain systems. Its products have historically supplied major auto manufacturers and Tier-1 suppliers, including Stellantis, Hitachi, and Valeo.
Decades of Local Operations
The Columbus plant first opened in 1987 as Diamet Corporation before eventually operating under PMG Indiana, a subsidiary of Germany-based PMG Holding GmbH.
At its peak in 2014 following a $23 million facility expansion, the plant employed 365 workers. Despite receiving local tax abatements in late 2019 for new equipment investments, the facility’s workforce steadily declined over the past decade alongside shifting auto industry supply chains.
Rapid Response Assistance for Workers
To assist the displaced workforce, Indiana’s WorkOne service will deploy a Rapid Response team directly to the site. Affected employees will have access to on-site resources provided through the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, including:
- Career counseling and skills assessment
- Job search assistance and resume building
- Dislocated-worker transition training services
