NASHUA, N.H. (AP) – A company that makes burial caskets is closing its Nashua plant, resulting in the loss of 200 jobs.

Batesville Casket Co. will close the plant by March 2006.

The company said it is consolidating its solid wood casket production from Nashua to a plant in Panola, Miss., to cut manufacturing costs.

Workers at the Nashua facility, which has produced high-end burial caskets since the early 1970s, were given the news Monday.

Batesville officials say the company will meet with the local union in the coming weeks to discuss severance packages.