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JLG, a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation, is also closing its factory in Belgium and telehandler manufacturing lines at the Orrville, Ohio plant in the USA.
“As part of our simplification strategy, we have evaluated our global manufacturing footprint and product offering to ensure our operations and product portfolio continue to remain competitive and meet current and future market demands,” said Frank Nerenhausen, Oshkosh executive vice president. “These planned actions allow us to improve performance to maintain our position as an access equipment leader around the globe.”
JLG is reducing its telehandler offering in the Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA) region, making only a limited range at its plant in Medias, Romania. As a result of the reduced telehandler line-up, less engineering support is needed from its UK-based engineering centre in Bruntingthorpe. A small group of employees would be retained in the Bruntingthorpe area, however, or within Europe.
The Bruntingthorpe closure date will be determined once discussions with employee representatives are complete. JLG anticipates that the Orrville and Maasmechelen manufacturing operations will close by the end of September 2017. The proposed changes may affect up to 525 employees overall.
There is speculation that the move could presage an end to JLG's alliance with Caterpillar. Under an agreement forged in 2005, JLG manufacturers Cat telehandlers. But last year Cat wound up a similar alliance for mini excavators with Wacker Neuson, to start in-house production. If Caterpillar is to resume its own telehandler production, it would certainly necessitate JLG to scale back in this way. However, neither Caterpillar nor JLG has made any comment to this effect.
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