Terex Corp. announced last month that it will close its scissorlift manufacturing plant in Milwaukee and move production to its Rock Hill, S.C., facility.

The consolidation, which will result in the layoffs of 40 employees, is expected help the lift unit "break even" this year after losses of about $2.5 million in the second and third quarters last year, Terex chairman and CEO Ron DeFeo said.

"The selection process and consolidation of purchasing that have taken place among the largest rental companies have resulted in Terex losing business to the more established brands of scissorlifts," DeFeo said.

The line, largely a rental product, represent more than $30 million in annual sales, about 3 percent of Terex's total 1998 revenue of $1.2 billion, according to the Westport, Conn., company.

The plant in Rock Hill manufactures several light construction equipment lines aimed at the rental market, including Amida lighting towers.

In separate news, Terex announced that it is adding 20 field service personnel to its Support Plus network, which assists its distributors with customer needs.

"The added field service people will be located close to our factories and other strategic locations," said Ed Samera, Terex Lifting vice president of quality, product support and training. "With their own vehicles, they will be promptly deployed by a central commander to help coordinate on-site with our distributors the best possible response to a customer's concern that may arise."