Automotive supplier Tribar Technologies will shutter its Wixom plant, leading to the permanent layoff of 188 workers, the company announced in a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notice dated April 9. The closure follows the recent sale of Tribar Technologies, with the purchasing company opting to consolidate operations at its existing facility in Howell, Michigan.

The mass layoff is scheduled to take effect on June 8, 2025, impacting employees at Adept Plastic Finishing, Inc.’s facilities located at 29835 Beck Road, 29883 Beck Road, and 48668 Alpha Drive in Wixom. In a letter to employees, Tribar Technologies stated that the layoffs are expected to be permanent and that affected workers are not entitled to job bumping rights.

A separate letter submitted to the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity on April 10 further detailed the situation. It explained that the sale of Tribar Technologies prompted the buyer's decision to consolidate Tribar's operations into their Howell location. The letter indicated that the Wixom site will be gradually shut down over the subsequent 60 days. However, it also offered a glimmer of hope to the affected employees, stating that the buyer would be interviewing both hourly and salaried Tribar employees for potential job opportunities at the Howell facility.

This closure comes nearly three years after Tribar Technologies faced significant public scrutiny and regulatory action due to a substantial release of hexavalent chromium into the Huron River in the summer of 2022. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) reported that "several thousand gallons of a liquid containing 5% hexavalent chromium" were discharged into the Wixom Wastewater Treatment Plant, which ultimately flows into the Huron River.

Hexavalent chromium is a highly toxic compound used in various industrial processes, including electroplating. It is a known carcinogen that can pose serious health risks through ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption. The 2022 incident led to a "no contact" recommendation for a stretch of the Huron River as authorities worked to assess and mitigate the environmental impact. While EGLE later determined that the amount of hexavalent chromium reaching the river was less than initially feared, the event raised significant concerns about the company's environmental practices.

It remains unclear whether the 2022 environmental incident played a direct role in the recent sale and subsequent plant closure. However, it undoubtedly added to the company's challenges and public image.