STATFORD, Ont. — A Hendrickson springs facility is the latest casualty of a series of heavy truck plant cutbacks in Ontario.

The plant, which makes heavy springs for Sterling Truck in St. Thomas and International Truck in Chatham, Ont., will lay off 150 workers.

“We have seen some decline in the workforce over the past year due to normal attrition in both the salaried and hourly workforce, which should reduce the overall impact of the layoffs,” said a Hendrickson spokesperson, who added that about 35 percent of both salaried and hourly personnel will ultimately be let go at the company.

Both Sterling and International have announced layoffs at both plants as result of an expected industry downturn in 2007.

Truck buyers are likely to stay away from upcoming, more expensive low emission engines that take affect in January. But OEMs are predicting sales will pick up in late ’07 and 2008 and many of the workers could be called back at that time.

Sterling issued 800 layoff notices last week, and International send 640 workers home.

Workers at the Stratford parts plant, which has been in business about 40 years, are represented by the United Steelworkers Union Local 8873.

Itasca, Ill.-based Hendrickson is a supplier of truck, tractor and trailer suspensions, truck and trailer lift axles, bumpers and trim components and springs to the commercial transportation industry.