Eaton Corp. on Friday said it plans to close plants in the United Kingdom, Spain and in the United States, cutting about 730 jobs and incurring third quarter costs of about $50 million.

Eaton expects to close plants in Manchester and Montornes del Valles, Spain, by the end of 2006, cutting 299 and 154 jobs respectively. It also plans to close a plant in Saginaw, Michigan, by the second half of 2008, cutting 277 jobs.

Pretax charges to close the Manchester plant, where Eaton makes heavy duty truck transmissions, are expected to total $25 million for severance, pensions and other costs, it said. About $22 million will charged to the third quarter, it said.

Eaton expects pretax charges to total about $19 million at the Montornes del Valles plant that produces engine valves for severance, a write down on fixed capital and other costs. About $17 million of those costs are expected in the third quarter.

Pretax charges are expected to run about $21 million to close a valve actuator plant in Saginaw, including about $11 million in the third quarter, Eaton said. The charges include severance, pension costs and a write down of fixed capital.

Eaton also backed its third quarter earnings forecasts of net income per share of $1.50 to $1.60, and operating earnings per share that exclude charges to integrate recent acquisitions of $1.55 to $1.65.