Detroit Free Press: Energy Conversion Devices: Laying off 500, suspending manufacturing

Auburn Hills-based Energy Conversion Devices said late today that it is suspending manufacturing at its four Michigan plants and laying off 500 of its workers, most of them in Michigan.

The troubled maker of solar roofing materials also will not report its fiscal 2012 first-quarter earnings tomorrow and said it has begun discussions with some of its debt holders. The manufacturing suspension will also involve a furlough of 400 employees.