First Brands Group, LLC has closed its Brake Parts, Inc. plant in McHenry, Illinois, resulting in the loss of 389 jobs. The plant, located northwest of Chicago, is the latest casualty as the company navigates a Chapter 11 bankruptcy process.
The situation has been further complicated by the recent arrests of company founder Patrick James and his brother Edward on federal fraud and money laundering charges.
The future of First Brands’ Champion Laboratories facility in Albion remains uncertain. While some shifts have been canceled and employees furloughed, there has been no official announcement regarding the closure of the Albion plant.