C&A to drop fabrics business

Collins & Aikman Corp., an American auto-parts maker which filed for bankruptcy last year, is sorting out its plans to sell off their automotive fabrics arm. Subsequently, they will also be looking to rid themselves five U.S. plants with 1,200 employees, in an attempt to cut costs.
According to the company, the business has been severely crippled by rising raw-material prices and competition from companies operating in countries with lower wages.
However, the company said it would continue to make carpeting, cockpits and convertible tops.
Collins & Aikman has been closing plants, cutting jobs and selling off unwanted business units for the past year, as they try and reach their goal of emerging from bankruptcy by September.
The company, based in Troy, has been a part of the automotive fabrics industry since the 1920’s when it came on the scene as a primarily textiles manufacturer.