American LaFrance consolidates plants

Summerville-based vehicle maker American LaFrance LLC is making deep cuts to pull through the economic downturn and to maintain its financial backing. The company notified workers that it is closing its fire-truck plants in Hamburg, N.Y., and Ephrata, Pa., and bringing that work back to its headquarters off Jedburg Road by May 31.

The consolidation affects roughly 270 workers in New York and Pennsylvania. The company, which emerged from bankruptcy protection less than a year ago, said it also laid off 12 local workers.

When the job cuts are completed, the company will have 280 employees, all in Summerville, where it currently makes garbage trucks.

Reshuffling the deck

As Patriots Point Development Authority seeks millions of dollars needed to repair its fleet and revamp its floating maritime attraction, executive director Hugh Tant III resigned after less than a year in the job.

Tant, a retired Army brigadier general who turns 60 in June, said he made the decision to devote his time to his family. Marketing director Dick Trammell was tapped to serve as interim executive director as the authority searches for a permanent replacement.

Tant's resignation comes two months after he and other Patriots Point officials announced the need for more than $64 million to keep the maritime museum thriving.

More of the same

Reeling from the slowdown in the car business, Robert Bosch LLC said it is eliminating an additional 225 production jobs at its Dorchester Road auto parts plant.

By the end of this month, the factory will be down to about 1,625 employees from about 2,100 last year.

In recent months Bosch has announced plans to cut about 500 jobs through a combination of layoffs, attrition and voluntary buyouts,

Green machines

Nine local companies and individual truckers will receive assistance under a new program to help truckers cut engine idling and fuel use, the State Ports Authority said.

The initiative is to help offset 75 percent of the costs of retrofitting vehicles with technologies such as replacing dual tires with a single-wide variety.

Another 14 truckers and companies will get help purchasing idle-reduction equipment, expected to save a gallon of fuel per hour.