NTN-BCA Corp. (USA, a subsidiary of NTN Corp., Japan) has closed its bearing manufacturing plant in Greensburg, Indiana, near Indianapolis.

Approximately 280 workers lost their jobs in the move -- 240 hourly and 40 salary -- as NTN-BCA consolidated bearing manufacturing in its other facility in Lititz, Pennsylvania. Lititz is headquarters for the NTN-BCA operation, although NTN's U.S. home office is in Mt. Prospect, Illinois.

NTN-BCA was created in 1996, when NTN Corp. bought out its troubled joint venture manufacturing partner, Federal-Mogul Corporation. Only two manufacturing plants -- Lititz and Greensburg -- were involved in the transaction. However, NTN also acquired the BCA (formerly Bearing Corporation of America) brand, which was itself acquired by Federal-Mogul years earlier.

The Greensburg plant was built by Bearing Corporation of America in 1962 to manufacture ball bearings for heavy-duty industrial and agricultural applications. Located on 39 acres, the factory itself covers approximately 178,000 square feet.

NTN-BCA's product line includes Conrad-type radial ball bearings, angular contact ball bearings, mounted bearings, adapter bearings, disc bearings and combined ag products, forklift mast guide / chain guide bearings, swash plate / cradle bearings, clutch release and pilot bearings, wheel bearings and idler pulleys.

Sales of bearings made by Greensburg had been declining, in the face of competition from imported bearings and because its customers began closing down or moving their own manufacturing operations overseas.

Several employees interviewed by eBearing said they long expected the plant to close, as sales and production dropped off with no reversal in sight. At the same time, they praised NTN-BCA for not hiding the plant's troubles, and for being open and straightforward about its unsure future.

They cited information and employment fairs and help provided by NTN-BCA long before the actual shutdown began. The NTN-BCA Employee Information Fair, for example, brought in financial institutions, insurance firms, educational opportunities, job placement resources, community resources, and even other local employers to interview workers. The job and information fair was sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, River Valley Resources, and NTN-BCA, fully two months before the layoffs began.

The closing was certified for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) by the Department of Labor, meaning that it was determined to be largely the result of foreign competition. TAA benefits include training, TRA, relocation and job search allowances, GED help, and other benefits.


? the U.S. Department of Labor's Trade Adjustment Assistance website

In addition, the NTN-BCA closing was also certified under the Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA), designed specifically to help older workers who may have fewer employment options.

According to local officials, NTN-BCA's ATAA is only the second ever certified in Indiana. Under ATAA, NTN-BCA workers are eligible for payments amounting to half the difference between their NTN-BCA wages and what they earn at their new job, up to $10,000 or two years. Eligibility is limited to workers over 50 years old, employed at a new job within 26 weeks, earn less than $50,000 per year, and be working full time or equivalent hours.

TAA and ATAA are separate programs; workers accepting TAA are not eligible for ATAA, and vice-versa.

The average age of NTN-BCA's Greensburg workers was 53, and many were already eligible for or planning retirement, which has helped blunt the impact of so many jobs lost in the small community of 10,000.

Equipment not moved to Lititz was sold at auction.


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