New Hampshire Ball Bearings (NHBB; USA) initiated a lockout of the 350 hourly workers at its Astro division plant in Laconia, New Hampshire.

NHBB's other manufacturing facility -- the Hitech division plant in Peterborough, New Hampshire -- is not affected. NHBB is a division of NMB (USA) Inc., itself a division of Minebea Co., Ltd. (Japan). Minebea is the world's largest manufacturer of miniature and precision instrument bearings, with 39 facilities in 10 countries and a 65% world market share of ball bearings 22mm and under.

Laconia's negotiations for a new three year contract with the United Steelworkers of America had been ongoing since late summer. However, those negotiations reportedly stalled over a requested moratorium on wage increases and NHBB's insistence that workers pay a larger share of their health insurance coverage.

The contract expired last Friday, and workers voted Saturday to reject the company's latest offer. Management initiated the lockout effective with Sunday's third shift. Nonunion employees continued to report.

eBearing could not verify the status of current negotiations.

NHBB's Astro division is the leading U.S. supplier of spherical bearings, rod ends, sleeves, slotted entry bearings and sub-assemblies for use in aerospace applications such as helicopters, airplanes, jet engines, missiles, satellites, landing gear and other high-precision applications. The plant's equipment allows production of precision units over 22" in diameter, and from various materials including titanium, brass, stainless and high carbon steel.

Laconia also manufactures self-lubricating linear systems for various custom applications, and the facility is equipped with a wide variety of advanced systems testing equipment.