SACO (AP) – Holman Cooking Equipment will close its 25-year-old Saco plant later this spring, eliminating 53 jobs.

Holman, a subsidiary of Star Manufacturing International of St. Louis, plans to shift production to a vacant facility in St. Louis, said Russ Bellerose, general manager in Saco.

Employees of Holman, which makes commercial food service products, were notified of the job cuts last month.

General Dynamics, which has laid off more than 30 employees at its armaments plant in Saco during the last two months, will eliminate as many as 20 more, the company confirmed Friday.

John Suttle, a General Dynamics spokesman in Virginia, linked the layoffs to the expiration and non-renewal of government contracts for two machine guns.

Employees at the former Saco Defense plant were notified last year of the possible job cuts and were aware their work was tied to government contracts, Suttle said.

General Dynamics will employ around 170 people at the plant once the cuts are completed, Suttle said.

AP-ES-03-26-04 1454EST