RACINE - The Modine Manufacturing Co. plant in Clinton, Tenn., will close at the end of this month.

The closing and the 53 layoffs that came with it was due to sluggish sales in the automobile industry.

The Racine-based company originally announced the plan to close the plant back in July 2006 as part of a larger restructuring. The plant makes parts for Chrysler vehicles.

Company officials based the decision on the anticipated phaseout of certain Chrysler programs over a two-year period from 2007-09.

"This wasn't new information to anybody in the plant. It is not affecting local employment in Racine," said Susan Fisher, a company spokeswoman.

Modine manufactures products used in light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles; heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment; industrial equipment; refrigeration systems, fuel cells; and electronics.

In April, the company announced it would close plants in Camdenton, Mo., Logansport, Ind., Pemberville, Ohio, and cut more than 660 jobs. A month earlier the company announced it was closing a plant in Tubingen, Germany.

Company officials at the time said production would be consolidated mainly into other Modine North American plants.

The closings and production shifts were part of Modine's global restructuring program designed to realign manufacturing operations, improve profitability and strengthen global competitiveness.