Earlier this year "NTN USA" a supplier of bearings, constant velocity joints, and other precision industrial and automotive equipment announced that they would be "realigning" their USA operations "NTN Macomb Plant Remains Open as Company Streamlines North American Operations" (a summary can also be found below). The resulting plant closures mentioned below will in many cases mean the loss of heat-treating capacity as most of these facilities heat treat in house. As an example, the Hamilton, Alabama plant slated for closure has a large in-house heat treatment department which includes roller hearth and pusher furnaces. '

While it is unknown what the fate of the heat treatment equipment will be we would assume it is headed for auction-we can only hope for the sake of "NTN" that it is more successful than the recent closure of a “JTEKT North America Corporation” facility in Telford, TN "Bearing Facility Closure Kills Heat Treat Department". In that case we have been led to believe that the two pusher lines sold at auction for a total of $3,000.00-not even scrap value.

"NTN USA announced last week a strategic realignment of its North American automotive and industrial manufacturing operations designed to improve efficiency while maintaining quality and customer delivery. NTN Bower Macomb, will remain open during and after the transformation.

According to an NTN press release, the realignment initiative means that NTN USA will consolidate and optimize production across several locations over the next 18–24 months. The Macomb plant will shift its focus to supporting the Industrial OEM and Industrial Aftermarket business segments, transferring automotive CVJ component production to other NTN locations.

Key Actions:

• NTN Bower Corporation, Macomb, Illinois: Plant will remain open. Macomb's NTN will transition from automotive CVJ production to focus on Industrial OEM and Industrial Aftermarket business segments.

• NTN Bower Corporation, Hamilton, Alabama: Plant will ramp down operations and close over the next 18 months.

• American NTN Bearing Manufacturing (ANBM), Elgin, Illinois: Will consolidate axle bearing production within its campus and reorganize operations in its newest facility.

• NTN Driveshaft-Anderson, Inc. (NDA), Anderson, Indiana: CVJ shaft manufacturing plant will close over 18 months. CVJ plant remains fully operational.

• NTN Driveshaft Inc. (NDI), Columbus, Indiana: CVJ East Plant will close. CVJ West Plant and Forging Plant remain fully operational."