Mack Trucks to lay off 180 in Pa.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Mack Trucks is laying off 180 employees at its factory near Allentown.

Mack spokesman John Walsh says the end-of-year production shutdown is extended an extra week this year because of the economic conditions.

Walsh says that the layoffs will take effect at the close of production at the plant Dec. 23 and that production will resume with reduced manpower during the week of Jan. 12.

The plant employs about 680 workers.

The layoffs come just four months after the truck maker announced it would move its headquarters and testing center from Allentown to Greensboro, N.C., taking with it as many as 600 jobs.

Mack had recalled about 150 workers in October to keep pace with an increase in orders from Latin American, Middle Eastern and African countries.