Oct. 23--A second major layoff in six months related to the automotive industry is hitting the city of Harrodsburg.

Modine Manufacturing Inc. told workers Thursday afternoon that the plant, which makes radiators and heating and air-conditioning units for vehicles, will close in the next six to nine months.

The company is transferring production to other North American plants as it de-emphasizes the vehicular side of its business, according a corporate press release.

Harrodsburg Mayor Lonnie Campbell said Friday that many of the 110 employees who will lose their jobs had worked at the plant for all of the 38 years it has been open.

Campbell said the announcement was a surprise, that there had been indications that Modine would move another line to Harrodsburg instead of leaving.

"Closing operations is never easy," said Scott Bowser, Modine regional vice president for the Americas. He expressed Modine's "deep appreciation to all of the Harrodsburg employees for the hard work and dedication they have shown and their determination to provide the best thermal products and systems to our customers. We want to make the transition as seamless as possible to our customers and to assist the affected employees during the transition."

The news comes six months after Trim Masters Inc. moved its main corporate offices -- and 75 jobs -- out of the city, Campbell said. There also have been cuts at an automotive-related Hitachi plant and at Corning's sheet glass facility, which makes LCD glass for flat-screen TVs and computers.

Campbell said the city is reviewing its revenue in light of the layoffs.

"I've got the finance commissioner in here now, and we're talking about ways we can cut or make some decisions on how we're going to survive this economic downturn," Campbell said. "It's going to be hard."

Reach Janet Patton at (859) 231-3264 or 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 3264.

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