S.C. armored vehicle maker cutting 120 jobs
By The Associated Press Friday, October 02, 2009CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — An armored vehicle maker in South Carolina will lay off 120 workers to try to save $40 million a year.
The Post and Courier of Charleston reported Force Protection Inc. of Ladson said Wednesday it has a new strategy that doesn't require as many workers.
The company is working to diversify to include support and maintenance services for its existing fleet of armored vehicles, many of which are used in combat zones in Iraq.
Force Protection also has developed accessories to make the vehicles better able to withstand explosions.
Force Protection has lost recent bids for contracts to provide lighter-weight vehicles that can navigate the steep, rocky terrain in Afghanistan.
The cuts represent about 10 percent of Force Protection's work force.
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