Caterpillar scales back plan for fourth-quarter layoffs

PEORIA, ILLINOIS - Caterpillar Incorporated said Friday said it will reduce the number of layoffs and temporary plant shutdowns planned for the fourth quarter, citing increased demand for heavy-duty truck engines. <br> <br> The Peoria-based machinery manufacturer last month announced plans to furlough 3,270 workers for one to two weeks in December at plants in Mossville and Pontiac, Illinois, and Jefferson, Georgia, and Thomasville, Georgia. <br> <br> But Caterpillar said a better-than-expected fourth-quarter demand for engines has enabled it to scale back the number of affected employees and reduce the layoff period for others. <br> <br> While spokesman Carl Volz said he did not know how many employees would be laid off under the revised plan, he said there would be almost no layoffs in Mossville and Pontiac and that the number of workers affected in Georgia will be reduced by about 30 percent. <br> <br> Caterpillar makes mining, construction and agricultural machinery as well as engines for earth-moving and construction machines. It is the world&#39;s Number one maker of earth-moving machinery. <br> <br> The company operates manufacturing plants in 22 countries.