The doors have finally closed on Tier 1 automotive supplier Collins & Aikman (C&A, Troy, Michigan / USA; www.colaik.com) as it sold its final 16 plants to International Automotive Components (IAC; Dearborn, Michigan / USA; www.iacgroup.com). The plants, which according to court papers were still profitable earlier this year, manufacture automotive carpeting and acoustic insulation. IAC has also acquired an exterior trim plant from C&A in Hermosillo / Mexico. The businesses employ 4,150 people and have total sales of USD 600m. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Collins & Aikman was established in 1891 and boasted that it provided parts for nine out of 10 vehicles on the road. It filed for bankruptcy in May 2005 and decided to go into liquidation in November 2006 when it decided that its creditors would achieve a better return if the company’s assets were sold.