Jobs at risk as manufacturer set to cease production

Hundreds of jobs are at risk after a bearings manufacturer announced plans to cease production at a factory in Nottinghamshire after more than 125 years.

NSK Ltd said withdrawing production from its base in Northern Road, Newark, was part of ongoing "structural reforms in its European operations".

The factory, which started operations in 1900, was acquired by NSK in 1990 and currently employs 219 people. The company said it could close by March 2027.

Robert Jenrick, Reform UK MP for Newark, said: "It's a real tragedy for them [the workers] and our town as another proud manufacturing business contemplates ceasing production."

The factory was established in 1900 by Allen Ransome, when he moved his woodworking firm from London to Newark.

It started to manufacture its own bearings in 1906, with the woodworking side of the operation being sold after the Great Depression.

Towards the end of World War One, it was producing 50,000 bearings every month and in World War Two, it was a target for the Luftwaffe due to its contribution to the war effort, supplying bearings used in Spitfires, Hurricanes and Lancaster bombers.

In an announcement on the company's website, a spokesperson for NSK said: "Due to persistent challenges in the profitability of locally-manufactured products in Europe, NSK has been implementing measures such as withdrawing from unprofitable businesses and reorganising production sites.

"The proposed withdrawal of production from the [Newark] site is part of these ongoing structural reforms.

"Going forward, NSK will engage in careful consultations with all relevant stakeholders regarding the potential withdrawal.

"If closure proceeds, we envisage this would be no later than March 2027 and NSK will implement all necessary measures to support all circa 220 employees who may be affected."

The company confirmed it had entered a formal collective consultation with union officials and elected representatives at the site.

NSK, which is headquartered in Japan, creates bearings, automotive parts and precision machinery products.

It operates two subsidiaries from Newark - NSK Bearings Europe and NSK Precision UK.

All its employees in the town are directly employed by NSK Bearings Europe.

In a statement, Jenrick added: "I can only imagine how the loyal workforce of NSK and their families must be feeling today.

"I've spoken to some already and they are devastated.

"If any of them need help, please get in touch with me. I know everyone in Newark will want to do what they can to support you all at this time.

"More broadly, we've got to come up with a way to make British manufacturing viable. We can't keep losing jobs like this. Energy is too expensive. We have to reindustralise and protect good jobs."

NSK Bearings Europe is responsible for manufacturing precision bearings.

NSK Precision was a spin-off subsidiary created in 2003 to create precision machinery and parts.

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