FERGUS, Ont. - A.O. Smith Corp. is closing its hot water heater manufacturing operations in Fergus, Ont., in a move that will affect about 350 workers.

The company says it wants to consolidate its residential and light commercial water heater manufacturing into other North American plants.

It expects to end the majority of production at the Ontario plant on July 1.

The company says Fergus will remain the central office of its Canadian business with a total of about 125 employees.

An A.O. Smith plant in Stratford, Ont., that manufactures pump tanks for water systems is not affected.