A company that makes sensors for the steel industry plans to close a manufacturing plant in northern Indiana by the end of this year, a move that will eliminate nearly 80 jobs.
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Heraeus Electro-Nite Co. has notified employees at the Peru plant of the shutdown, saying it was unavoidable because of decreased demand for its devices that monitor and control molten metal processes.

Company spokesman David Dawson said the 90,000-square-foot plant will continue to be used as a distribution center for the company’s products and some engineering work will continue there.

The company expects to have fewer than 10 workers at the plant about 70 miles south of South Bend