Axle maker Colfor lays off nearly 600 in Ohio

An axle and drive-shaft manufacturer that gets most of its work from General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC has laid off nearly 600 people at three northeast Ohio locations.

Colfor Manufacturing and its parent company says it will cut production at American Axle & Manufacturing's Colfor plants in Minerva, Malvern and Salem, all located east of Canton.

Company spokeswoman Renee Rogers confirmed the layoffs Thursday. She says automaker cutbacks last week forced the parts maker to make cuts of its own.

GM and Chrysler account for about 84 percent of the company's revenue.