Atlas Copco, Stockholm, Sweden, will close its mining consumables production facilities in Grand Prairie, TX, and Salt Lake City, UT, and move production to its facility in Fort Loudon, PA. The Texas and Utah facilities belong to the Rock Drilling Tools division in the Mining and Rock Excavation Technique business area, and the company said "about 140 people in total will be affected."

"This move will make us more efficient and further improve productivity for customers,” said Johan Halling, president of the Mining and Rock Excavation Technique business area. “The mining market is going through a difficult period. Sadly, the measures taken will also affect some of our employees.”