ANGOLA — An Angola company has announced its plans to close, permanently laying off about 53 employees.

AAA Sales & Engineering in Angola announced its intent to close its facility on Wohlert Street in a letter sent to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development Dislocated Worker Unit on Oct. 8.

Originally founded in 1968, AAA Sales & Engineering provides high precision production machining services that can be found in almost all modes of transportation including automotive, heavy- and medium-duty trucks and agriculture. The company also has facilities in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, and Mexico.

The layoffs should begin around Dec. 8, with about 26 employees being affected at that time. Another 27 employees will be laid off in phases, ending around Jan. 31, according to a release by the company.

The majority of the layoffs - 34 - are direct labor (machine operators).

Affected employees will continue to receive pay and benefits for at least 60 days from when they receive their WARN notice. AAA Sales & Engineering employees and the mayor of Angola have been notified of the closure.

The company is making efforts to encourage employees to accept job transfers to its Oak Creek, Wisconsin, facility, which does have openings, according to the statement.