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Aug. 25--HARLINGEN, Texas--The city is losing another corporate citizen.

LDM Technologies, a plastic injection molding company on East Harrison Avenue, is closing its Harlingen shop so it can expand its operations in McAllen.

About 105 jobs will be affected by the move, which a company official said was due to economic reasons.

"We don't own the building in Harlingen and were max-ed out," Dean Hall, the plant's manager, said. "We own the building in McAllen and have room to expand."

LDM Technologies, formerly known as TADIM, came to Harlingen in 1991.

Company employees have been making small parts for the U.S. automotive industry, mostly for seat belt assemblies.

The company sells the components to other suppliers, which, in turn, sell the parts to several automotive manufacturers.

Hall said he informed city leaders about the decision to pack up and relocate its operation to McAllen.

He said employees at the Harlingen facility, set to close at the end of January, will have the opportunity to relocate there.

Nanette Fitch, director of economic development with the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce, said LDM is losing the lease of the building where it has been operating.

"We talked to them about looking at another facility," she said, but the company does not want to buy a building since it owns one in McAllen.

"We are disappointed to see them leaving," Fitch said, "but they are making a business decision."

She said several prospective investors, including another involved in plastic injection, have been looking to relocate here.

Several city and business leaders contacted for this story said they did not know about LDM plans to close its Harlingen shop.

City Commissioner Jay Meade, said the city would replace LDM with another company.

"We will roll up our sleeves and get to work," he said. "It's like me. If a lose a customer, I will try to replace it."

He said Harlingen is losing Fruit of the Loom, but it has gained another company.

EchoStar Communications Corp. has been beefing up its hiring plans since the end of July.

"One company is eliminating some 800 jobs," Meade said. "The other is bringing 1,000 new jobs."

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