In a move to improve the competitiveness and overall industrial efficiency of Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE), the company has decided to consolidate its North American industrial operations by removing excess industrial capacity in the Americas.
As a result, the company's Asheville, NC, USA manufacturing facility will stop its activities by 31st March 2010. The closing will affect 228 employees. Volvo CE will incur an estimated restructuring cost of $16 million which will be recorded mainly in the fourth quarter of 2009.
The production from Asheville will be moved to other existing Volvo CE locations while at the same time ensuring uninterrupted supply to our North American dealers and customers. The manufacturing of wheel loaders will move to Arvika, Sweden; excavators will be produced in Changwon, South Korea and Cabs for motor graders will be moved to Shippensburg, PA, USA.
A small number of employees from the Asheville plant will be offered positions in the company's Shippensburg, PA manufacturing operation. Employment opportunities in other North American Volvo Group companies will also be investigated.
A comprehensive Human Resources plan has been developed which will include, but will not be limited to, counseling support and assistance in the search for new employment.
