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CAT To Close W.Va. Highwall Miner Plant

Caterpillar Inc. is closing a highwall miner plant in southern West Virginia and moving production to a facility in Pennsylvania. Media outlets report that the company announced the move on Monday. Caterpillar says its plant in Beckley will close by mid-2014. Production will be shifted to the company's plant in Houston, Pa.

BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) -- Caterpillar Inc. is closing a highwall miner plant in southern West Virginia and moving production to a facility in Pennsylvania.

Media outlets report that the company announced the move on Monday.

Caterpillar says its plant in Beckley will close by mid-2014. Production will be shifted to the company's plant in Houston, Pa.

The Beckley plant employs about 40 workers. Caterpillar says the workers will be offered a severance package and transitional support.

Highwall miners are used in underground coal mines.

Caterpillar spokeswoman Barbara Cox says the company needs to make its undergrounding mining business more efficient and competitive.

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