Federal-Mogul Corp. (USA) announced it will close its Sealing Systems plant in Summerton, South Carolina by mid-2010, putting 350 people out of work.

The plant closing is a potentially devastating blow for Summerton, a Clarendon County town of only 1,100 people.

Built in 1974, Summerton manufactures a wide range of oil seals and gaskets for the auto industry. Applications are primarily heavy-duty engine and powertrain, both OEM and aftermarket.

While operations are already slow, it won't start formally shutting down operations until the second half of 2009. Equipment will be moved to another facility -- reportedly in Mexico.

F-M said in a statement: "The decision to close the Summerton plant is part of the company’s strategy to reduce excess manufacturing capacity as required to be competitive in the increasingly challenging global automotive industry."

At peak times, Summerton occasionally had more than 900 people on board to meet demand. It has long been Clarendon County's largest employer, and its economic footprint dominates Summerton. City, county and state officials have been crafting plans to offer employees more options for retraining and education, as local leaders work aggressively to attract new businesses.