Cummins Inc. last week announced that it is offering to recall approximately 270 production employees who had been laid off or transferred to other Cummins facilities over the past year in order to meet a temporary increase in orders for the Dodge Ram turbo diesel pickup truck engines made at the plant.

The order increase comes as Chrysler seeks to build inventory for its 2010 model heavy duty Dodge Ram pickup powered by Cummins’ 6.7-liter turbo diesel engine. As a result of the increased orders, Cummins plans to temporarily add a second production shift at CMEP that is expected to operate through the end of 2009. After the recall, Cummins will employ approximately 600 hourly workers at the plant.

The company has begun notifying employees and intends to begin the additional shift on Oct. 19. Cummins began production of the 2010 model engine Dodge Ram engines in mid-September with approximately 340 production employees working on a single shift.

Headquartered in Columbus, Ind., Cummins Inc. is a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems.