CNH Industrial is having an ongoing discussion with the local United Auto Workers union to move its Case M Series dozer production from Burlington, Iowa, to an undisclosed plant outside the U.S.

The move was reported by The Hawk Eye newspaper; CNH indicates that an official company announcement is expected at a later date.

"This move is intended to optimize our global manufacturing operations," the company said in a statement to the newspaper. "Upon completion, the manufacturing process in Burlington will become more streamlined, and the facility will be transformed into a North American Manufacturing Center of Excellence for backhoes, tractor loaders and rough terrain forklifts."

Six years ago, the Burlington plant received a $24 million expansion, in part to include dozer production.

Case CE announced in 2014 that it would move production of its M Series dozers from Calhoun, Georgia, to Burlington. The Calhoun plant closed in 2015, a move CNH said at the time was part of streamlining measures it deemed “necessary as the company adjusts its construction operations based on current volumes and market demand.”