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The eBearing News
October 27, 2006
RBC Building New Aerospace
Bearing Plant in Torrington
copyright © 2006 eBearing Inc.
RBC Bearings Inc. (USA; NASDAQ:
ROLL
announced it has begun building a new manufacturing facility in Torrington, Connecticut.
The new Torrington plant will allow the company to move its Aircraft Products aerospace bearing
production out of the 96,000 square foot space it now leases from Timken, part of the former
Torrington Standard Plant. That lease runs through December 2008.
RBC leased the space from Timken as part of its acquisition of the former Torrington aerospace bearing
plant and facilities. After Timken acquired Torrington, it moved quickly to divest the Torrington
aerospace bearing operations as nonstrategic. That manufacturing was and is still located in the
historic but massive and outdated Torrington Standard Plant on Prospect Street.
2003 article: Timken will divest Torrington airframe bearing business
2003 article: RBC to acquire Torrington airframe bearing business from Timken
2004 article: RBC completes standard plant acquisition
The new RBC plant is a refurbished former vending machine manufacturing
facility on Winsted Road in Torrington. RBC reportedly acquired the location, 140,000 square feet
on approximately 12 acres, for $7.5 million.
Winsted Road will not only absorb all of the Standard Plant's current aerospace bearing production, but
also allow room for planned expansion projects.
Consulting on the new site construction and outfitting project is CONNSTEP, the
Connecticut State Technology Extension Program
[website], whose
mission is to, "help Connecticut manufacturers apply advanced manufacturing and management techniques
to become more competitive, supporting the growth of Connecticut's economy."
In a press conference accompanying the new plant announcement, Chairman and CEO Michael Hartnett
said: "We could have chosen from 18 or 19 other locations. But the workforce and management team
here have helped our business to perform. We are happy to have our business invest in
Torrington and in Connecticut."
Mr. Hartnett added: "The new Torrington facility will play a critical role
in helping the Company to further execute on operational initiatives and meet the diverse
needs of our clients and the growing demand for our products. Since 2003, we have more than doubled our
operations in Connecticut from 150 employees to over 300 employees. We are pleased that our
investment in the state will continue and we are grateful to both state and local officials
for their support."
Local congresswoman Nancy Johnson said: "This is a big win for RBC's workers and for Torrington. This significant
new investment in Torrington will boost our local economy and create and retain jobs. I congratulate
RBC and its workforce on this good news, and I thank them for their commitment to Connecticut."
Torrington Mayor Ryan Bingham (now 23, at age 22 elected Torrington's youngest mayor) said: "RBC has always
been a friend to Torrington. We are proud to have them stay and grow in our city. It has been a pleasure
working with them and we know that this partnership will last for many years to come."
Reportedly, RBC will invest at least $6 million in the initial refitting, and a total of
$8 to $12 million over the next five years, as the new facility comes online and ramps up
production. Scheduled to come online in early 2007, all Standard Plant production should be
shifted to the new facility long before its Standard Plant lease expires.
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- by Bruce A. Carr
from individual research,
tips and commercial sources.
Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
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eBearing.com ... for everything that moves™
Entire contents Copyright 1999-2008, eBearing Inc. All rights reserved.
eBearing.com and "... for everything that moves" are registered
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eBearing.com ... for everything that moves™
Entire contents Copyright © 1999-2008, eBearing Inc. All rights reserved.
eBearing.com and "... for everything that moves" are registered trademarks of eBearing Inc.
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