JLG to close manufacturing at Orrville, Ohio plant, shutter two European facilities

Updated Feb 3, 2017
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A view of part of JLG\’s campus in McConnellsburg.

JLG Industries, part of the Oshkosh Corporation, plans to shut down the manufacturing lines at its Orrville, Ohio, telehandler plant by Sept. 30 this year, and will move all North American telehandler production to its Pennsylvania sites.

It also plans to close the Maasmechelen, Belgium, manufacturing and pre-delivery inspection (PDI) facility within 18 months, and its Bruntingthorpe, U.K, engineering center once it has conducted negotiations with “employee representatives.”

The company reports engineering services in Orrville will continue. The manufacturing lines closures will hit 525 employees between the Ohio facility and the Belgium site.

“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,” says Frank Nerenhausen, Oshkosh executive vice president and president access division.  “These planned actions allow us to improve performance to maintain our position as an access equipment leader around the globe.”

The changes are part of a larger effort to cut down on JLG’s telehandler offerings in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EAMA), with limited production remaining at its Medias, Romania, plant. The company plans to support discontinued models via its aftermarket division for at least 10 years.

JLG says the Maasmechelen PDI work will be spread out among its other facilities or be outsourced, with a few “non-manufacturing employees” continue to work in the area.

“These actions, although difficult, are the right ones for our business,” Nerenhausen says. “Simplifying our product portfolio and operations aligns with our long term vision and strategic direction, positioning JLG to deliver an enhanced customer experience and improved return on investment moving forward.”