SKF closes two plants

SKF is to close two of its US plants – a bearing plant in Aiken, South Carolina, and a seals plant in Springfield, South Dakota.

Bearing's giant

SKF

has decided to close two of its

US

plants – a bearing plant in

Aiken, South Carolina

, and a seals plant in

Springfield, South Dakota

.

The bearing production will be transferred to SKF's bearing plant in Puebla, Mexico and seals manufacturing to the seals plants in Elgin, Illinois, USA and Guadalajara, Mexico.

The two plants in Aiken and Springfield manufacture products for the North American automotive industry and some 460 employees will be affected.

The phasing out process is expected to take place over a period of 18 months.

‘Our OEM automotive business in the US is under pressure and we need to take these measures to restore our profitability in the US,’ said Tryggve Sthen, President of SKF's  Automotive Division.