More layoffs have been announced across the U.K. bearing industry. At least three involve manufacturers with operations worldwide who are cutting back in the U.K. and not elsewhere.

In eastern Scotland, Dana Glacier Vandervell engine bearings is permanently cutting at least 163 workers from its Bathgate, West Lothian plant. With current employment at only 260, over 63% of the factory's jobs are being lost.

Glacier Vandervell said the Bathgate cuts are part of a restructuring and efficiency improvement effort involving all European operations. A spokesman said the cuts may not happen until mid-2003, but they are, "Plan A."

In England, NSK Bearings Europe (division of NSK Ltd., Japan) is laying off at least 95 workers from its Peterlee Manufacturing plant.

NSK's European operations have been in financial difficulty for some time. Although NSK is in the midst of an overall corporate restructuring effort, particular attention is being paid to the money-losing U.K. operations.

Peterlee is NSK's largest operation in the U.K.; in fact, over several recent quarters, several smaller NSK facilities have been closed and moved to Peterlee to be consolidated under one roof.

And Torrington (USA) is reportedly planning to lay off another 60 employees, half of its remaining workforce, in Darlington (U.K.). Last year, Torrington cut 70 people from the Darlington operation.

Manufacturing in general is having a difficult time in the U.K. Not only is the economy soft and demand weak, but the value of the Pound Sterling has also remained strong. This makes U.K. manufactured goods quite expensive in Euros and therefore less competitive in the overall European marketplace. So when multinational companies have the opportunity and ability to shift production to lower cost locations, they are taking that initiative.