GST AutoLeather, a maker of automotive seating leather, is to close its Western Maryland plant which will lead to the last 400 manufacturing workers at the company losing their jobs. The Williamsport plant will close towards the end of September.

In 2002, the plant had about 1,000 workers, but after being acquired by Citicorp Venture Capital in 2000 much of the production was moved to Mexico and China. The Williamsport tannery was established in 1897, meaning the closure will end over a century of US production.

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