NSK's Pittsfield factory to close; 280 jobs to go

The Ann Arbor News ^ | Wednesday, January 19, 2005 | BRYCE G. HOFFMAN

[Willie Green]

Manufacturer cites overseas competition

NSK Corp. announced Tuesday that it would begin a phased closure of its ball bearing factory in Pittsfield Township, a move that will eliminate 280 jobs over the next year and a half.

Jerry Hope, NSK's vice president of human resources, said manufacturing would be shifted to other NSK factories.

"We recognized the need to consolidate our operations," Hope said, explaining that NSK faces increasing competition from overseas producers. He said that NSK is one of the few remaining domestic producers of bearings like those manufactured in Ann Arbor.

[mlbford2]

Maybe they can go get some jobs at Yahoo. They are adding 1400.

[2banana]

He said that NSK is one of the few remaining domestic producers of bearings like those manufactured in Ann Arbor.

Didn't we try to totally disrupt German industry during WWII by specifically targeting and bombing their ball bearing plants...?

[L98Fiero]

NSK bearings suck. My former employer (OTR truck shop)lost a lot of money on failures when we switched from CR bearings to NSK, due to lower cost. I hate it that these guys are losing their jobs, but NSK failures cost us a few customers.

[Willie Green]

Yes. And we were quite successful too.
There is no doubt that, by demolishing this vital industry, we hastened the end of the war.
Heck, there is a high probability Hitler could've WON if we had left their production capabilities intact.

[MonroeDNA]

Always being the turd in the punchbowl, eh Willie?

[2banana]

There is no doubt that, by demolishing this vital industry, we hastened the end of the war.

And now we voluntarily let this vital industry go overseas as we shut down domestic production...

[nsk--worker cut off]

NSK sux---I got hurt on the job--They fired me--cut off my retirement--cut my insurance--Now they want to cut my worker's comp. for a real stupid reason---They let me work with restrictions--then they said my job was eliminated---I WAS A JANITOR--PISS POOR COMPANY--HOPE YOU JAP'S LOOSE THE WHOLE COMPANY---WOULD SERVE YOU RIGHT. PISSED OFF!!!

[Larry Lucido]

Sorry to hear that. Get a good workers comp lawyer.

You should be able to get another job. If not, help us unelect Granholm. Michigan is the only state not benefitting from current economic growth.

[N. Theknow]

A ball bearing factory?

Does that make it a male-ordered business?