Southfield, Mich.-based Contech Castings LLC has suspended certain operations at two plants in northeastern Indiana and laid off more than 200 employees after losing a customer to a competitor.

Contech notified state officials on Feb. 21 of the imminent layoffs, which the Indiana Department of Workforce Development posted on its website Friday.

“We were notified [Feb. 20] of the need for an immediate suspension of production and have made every effort to react to the announcement as rapidly as possible,” a Contech executive told the state in a Feb. 21 letter. Layoffs began immediately and were expected to extend through the end of February, the company said.

Contech is an auto parts supplier that operates plants in Auburn and Pierceton in northeastern Indiana.

The total number of employees affected by the layoff at the Auburn location was 128, including 68 machine operators and 21 production technicians. At Pierceton, 80 employees were affected, including 49 machine operators.

Contech has suspended transmission production at the two plants as a result of the lost customer.

The company is a supplier of steering systems, power trains, transmissions, suspensions and auto body parts.