GM press breakdown leads to cut in shifts

staff report

LORDSTOWN — A second stamping press broke down at the General Motors fabricating plant, which cut work shifts in half Thursday.

Chris Lee, a GM spokesman, said the fabricating plant is scheduled to return to full production today. The assembly plant, which takes the metal parts produced at the fabricating plant, has remained at full staffing.

The first of the fabricating plant’s five presses went down last week. Lee said getting both presses back in production is expected to take some time, but he didn’t have further information.

In the meantime, GM is relying on other plants, such as a fabricating plant in Pittsburgh, to help keep the Lordstown operation running, Lee said. The local plant also is adjusting work flow in order to keep up with orders.

Lee said overtime that had been scheduled at the plant Saturday has been canceled, but full production is planned Monday.

The complex produces the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5.