Timken Officially Closing Gambrinus Bearing Production
updated: 2010-04-21 0:00:00 hit:722
Timken has told employees at its Gambrinus Bearing Plant that the operation will close within 60 days, leaving 57 people without jobs
The 82-year-old Gambrinus Bearing factory has faced shutdown since 2004, when Timken announced plans to phase out local bearing production because of “competitive challenges.” Local bearing production has dwindled over the past five years, but Timken kept the facility open.
In the meantime, nearly half of the 1,100 bearings workers moved to jobs in the local steel operations or salaried positions. About 140 employees retired and another 100 left the company for various reasons.
About 200 workers will remain in local bearing operations. Many workers in the bearing operations have been on layoff during the past year.
Timken officials said the steel operation has been improving in recent months, and hope the 57 people who are losing their jobs will be recalled to openings in steel production.