Grove lays off 39 workers

October 21, 2002

SHADY GROVE, Pa. - Grove Worldwide will permanently lay off nearly 40 employees at its Franklin County, Pa., plant, the company announced Friday.

The giant crane and aerial manlift maker announced a reduction in its work force of 39 general administrative and indirect operations support personnel positions. The layoffs are permanent, the company said in a news release.

The layoffs are in response to efficiency improvements and a result of the integration of Grove into the Manitowoc Co., which purchased Grove Worldwide earlier this year, the news release said.

"While we continue to experience a very soft worldwide market, these actions have not affected our production work force, which is sized appropriately to meet our current build schedules," said Joel Wheeler, executive vice president and general manager of Grove Cranes.

"Actions were necessary to adjust our indirect operations support personnel as well as general and administrative employees based on ... our merger with the Manitowoc Co.," Wheeler said.

The moves bring Grove's layoffs to a total of 259 since July at the Shady Grove plant. Grove laid off 125 workers in July and 95 in September.

Wheeler said in September that the company must take immediate steps to adjust staffing levels to meet market and customer demands.

The company also laid off 70 employees in February at the Shady Grove plant.

Grove produces mobile hydraulic cranes, truck-mounted cranes and aerial work platforms.

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