Snorkel International Idling Kansas Plant

Major producer of aerial work platforms used in construction will halt production for five days beginning Oct. 27 because of falling demand for its products.

ELWOOD, Kan. (AP) -- Production workers at a northeast Kansas manufacturing plant will get a week off later this month, but it's no vacation.

Snorkel International in Elwood will halt production for five days beginning Oct. 27 because of falling demand for its products.

Snorkel International is a major producer of aerial work platforms used in construction and similar businesses. The company was bought last year by England's Tanfield Group.

Tanfield initially added about 100 workers at the Kansas plant, bringing total employment up to 450. But it laid off 100 production workers in September, along with 125 at a plant in the United Kingdom.

A spokesman said Snorkel will use the five-day shutdown to adjust production capacity at the Elwood plant.

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