JLG gets another U.S. Army contract

October 12, 2009|By JENNIFER FITCH

McCONNELLSBURG, Pa. -- JLG's parent company announced Monday it has been awarded a fourth U.S. Army contract that will translate into more work for the McConnellsburg manufacturing plant.

The $408.5 million contract for 923 MRAP all-terrain vehicles (M-ATVs) brings the total commitment since June to $2.76 billion, according to an Oshkosh Corp. news release.

Although the new contract won't mean additional laid-off employees will be recalled, it will extend the period of MRAP-ATV production in McConnellsburg, Oshkosh spokeswoman Ann Stawski said.

JLG and another Oshkosh facility will each attempt to produce 500 M-ATVs a month starting in December, she said.

The first M-ATVs were delivered to Afghanistan in early October. The armored vehicles have a TAK-4 suspension system that allows for greater off-road mobility.

The system can be retrofitted to vehicles already in use if they have straight axles, Stawski said.

The system underwent more than 400,000 miles of government testing and is featured on vehicles used by the U.S. Marines, Navy Seabees and the Army.

"We've been supplying military vehicles since the 1940s," Stawski said of Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Corp.

M-ATV production is expected to continue through at least March 2010.

JLG shed half of its work force when the economy soured. Stawski said at least 500 people have been recalled thanks to the M-ATV contracts.

JLG, Fulton County's largest employer, produces mobile aerial work platforms and telehandlers. When Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell visited the plant in January 2006, about 2,200 people were employed there.

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