Westling Manufacturing Lays Off 70 One of the industry’s oldest remanu- facturers announced the layoff of 70 employees last month. Westling Manufacturing, Princeton, Minn., con- firmed the layoffs, ironically coming two years to the month after the 2003 decision to move part of the operation to Mexico in favor of lower wages. Local newspaper the Princeton Union-Eagle reported that 275 full-time workers remained, down from 500 one year ago. They also reported that the company is “restructuring and reorgan- izing in order to survive.” Westling Manufacturing, founded in 1933 by Don Westling and headed today by his son John, initially remanu- factured “knee-action” shock absorbers for 30’s vintage automobiles. Today they remanufacture starters, alternators and clutches for import and domestic applications. They also offer a line of “100 percent new starters and alterna- tors for late model vehicles,” according to the company Web site.