Just when it looked like things couldn't get worse, one of this city's longest-standing plants has cut its workforce.


Timken Canada LP on Talbot Street has laid off 48 workers permanently, leaving 300 workers at the plant.

The plant also closed for two days last week as orders dried up for its tapered roller bearings that go into passenger cars.

Jeff Dafler, Timken's manager of global media and government relations, said Timken saw the trend for declining orders developing over the past year.

"In the last few months, the global conditions have soured for the automotive market," Dafler said.

Timken supplies most of the major automobile manufacturers, domestic and foreign.

St. Thomas has been hard-hit by auto-related layoffs in recent months, most notably the pending closing of the Sterling truck plant, which will eliminate 2,000 jobs.

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