Timken Darlington plant closure

US-based automotive and general engineering group The Timken Company has announced the planned closure of its plant in Darlington, in County Durham.

Following consultations with the union, operations at the plant are expected to be phased out during the next 8-12 months. The plan would affect 104 jobs.

The Darlington plant was opened in 1964 by the former Torrington Company, which Timken recently acquired. The plant produces large cylindrical, spherical and tapered roller bearings that are used in a range of industrial applications.

Following its February 2003 acquisition of The Torrington Company, Timken employs 28,000 people worldwide in operations in 29 countries. In 2002, the combined companies had sales of approximately $3.8bn