Jan. 27--OSAKA -- Panasonic Electric Works Co. will cease production at its wholly owned manufacturing unit in Aichi Prefecture by March and shut down the site around September as part of its restructuring program, sources familiar with the matter said Tuesday.

Some 130 regular employees as well as temporary workers at Panasonic Electric Works Nagoya Co. will be transferred to other group firms, according to the sources.

The subsidiary based in Kiyosu, Aichi Prefecture, has been making consumer products such as self-cleaning toilet bowls and exercise machines that simulate riding a horse.

Last year the parent firm closed its kitchen unit factories in Nara and Gunma prefectures.

It aims to shut down three more plants by the end of its business year through March 2011, shedding about 1,000 workers.

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