Deere-Hitachi Construction Machinery Corp. last week announced it will shut down its operations in Kernersville, N.C., for two one-week periods this month, affecting approximately 550 production employees there.

According to the company, the plant has already been operating with shorter work weeks for some time. The slowdown in market demand for its products was cited as the reason for the shut downs.

Deere-Hitachi Construction Machinery produces hydraulic excavators. The company sells new and used equipment that includes compact excavators, rigid frame trucks, mining excavators and shovels, and forestry excavators. DHCM was formed in 1988 as a joint venture between Deere & Company and Hitachi subsidiary Hitachi Construction Machinery Co.