WEST FARGO - Bobcat Co. will cut 140 jobs from its plant in Gwinner later this year and move production of its compact excavators to its Bismarck plant, the firm said in a news release Thursday June 16.
Bobcat is looking to use space more efficiently, said spokeswoman Laura Ness Owens. The Gwinner plant is expected to produce more compact tracked loaders in response to market demand, she said, and these machines require more space.
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Most of the cuts will likely come through attrition, she said.
The additional production of tracked loaders, however, will not result in more jobs in Gwinner. The move to Bismarck will add 160 jobs there when the new excavator line starts in spring 2017.
Bobcat now employs about 1,600 in Gwinner as part of a workforce of 3,000 throughout North Dakota, including plants in West Fargo and Wahpeton.
