JLG Industries is closing a USA plant and concentrating production of its aerial work platforms in two US and one Belgian facility.

The closure of the Bedford, Pennsylvania, plant comes as other cuts in sales, administration and product development costs occur, which JLG says should lead to USD20 million in annual savings.

JLG will close the 130,000 square foot (12,000 square metre) Bedford plant and, by July 31, move production of some scissor lift models to JLG's new, more flexible 300,000 square foot (28,000 square kilometre) Shippensburg, USA, facility. The firm will transfer 99 production jobs from Bedford to Shippensburg.

"While facing the challenges of this economy, our actions are consistent with the broader realignment efforts of our three-year, multi-dimensional strategic plan to further optimise performance," JLG chairman Bill Lasky said.

JLG has aimed since mid-2001 to improve manufacturing processes, standardise product lines and better manage its global supply chain.

In addition to the Shippensburg site, manufacturing of aerial work platforms will continue in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, and Maasmechelen, Belgium. JLG is cutting 189 jobs globally, including 36 in its European sales and service operations.

JLG plans to achieve further design commonality in the next two years, Mr Lasky said. The change "will provide greater manufacturing flexibility".