BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - The Toro Company recently announced a decision to close its Evansville, Ind., plant and shift manufacturing to Toro’s Tomah, Wisc., and Windom, Minn. plants. The move is part of the company’s long-term strategy to strengthen operations and leverage enterprise-wide manufacturing assets.

The move will affect about 94 employees. The company expects to record a restructuring and asset impairment charge of approximately $0.8 to $1.0 million in fiscal 2002. The move is expected to provide annual savings of about $2.0 to $2.3 million

beginning in 2003.

Manufacturing will be phased out by June 15, 2002 with inventory and equipment transfers to be completed 60 to 90 days later. Toro’s Evansville plant produced Toro and Exmark-branded grounds maintenance and sports turf spraying equipment. Toro has leased manufacturing space at the Evansville site since its acquisition of Hahn, Inc., in 1995.