West Fargo, N.D.-based Bobcat Co. last week asked an additional 50 workers at its Bismarck and Gwinner, N.D., production facilities to take early retirement. The company had recently asked 100 other workers to take the early retirement offer.

In October, the company announced its plans to suspend manufacturing production in its North Dakota facilities for six weeks, beginning Dec. 15, with operations resuming Monday, Feb. 2, 2009. The action is a result of current economic conditions, specifically the downturn in the housing market and crisis in the financial markets.

"Demand for all construction equipment has decreased substantially over the past several months," Rich Goldsbury, president, Bobcat Americas, said last month. "Other industrial equipment manufacturers have made similar moves recently, including layoffs and the closing of plants."

The Gwinner and Bismarck Bobcat facilities have approximately 2,000 employees combined.

The Gwinner facility manufactures Bobcat skid-steer, compact track and all-wheel-steer loaders. The Bismarck facility manufactures compact excavators, mini track loaders, and Toolcat utility work machines.