BNL Ltd. (UK; website) ) has acquired Cobb Slater Ltd. (UK; website) and will be closing Cobb Slater's Darley Dale plant. The 60 workers there will lose their jobs as production is moved to BNL's Knaresborough facility.

Spun off from Sarnatech BNL, BNL was acquired by Plastics Capital UK (UK) in 2005.

article: Plastics Capital acquires BNL (includes history & product lines)
BNL is a world leader in lubricant-free thermoplastic rolling element bearings, producing approximately 50 million bearings each year. It is also a leading automotive Tier 1 supplier of custom plastic bearings for various in-car applications. The bearings usually have integrally formed shafts, gears or mechanical assemblies, and are found in most photocopiers, office machines, signs, cameras, computer scanners, food processing equipment and chemical processing equipment.

BNL's manufacturing facility is located in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire. The company also has offices in Japan and the U.S.

Cobb-Slater's East Midlands site has three divisions, based on its advanced injection molding capabilities: plastic rolling element bearings and assemblies, technical custom mouldings, and domestic electrical insulator applications.

Cobb Slater bearing examples

The company's bearing lineup is primarily rolling element bearings and bearing assemblies. Current applications include shower doors, photo etch acid baths, golf caddy wheels, ATMs, emergency rotating beacons, computer printers, various medical equipment, sliding patio doors, overhead conveyors, and roller conveyers.

Bearing races can be molded from acetyl or polypropylene, with plastic or brass retainers, and stainless steel or glass balls. There is also a separate line with plastic wheel or pulley outers and brass inners.

It was not clear, beyond bearings, what Cobb Slater products would become part of the BNL lineup and moved from Darley Dale to Knaresborough, and which would be shut down or sold off.

Making the acquisition, BNL UK's President, Dr. Neil Partlett, said it is part of BNL's strategy to continue strong organic growth. He said: "We want to accelerate our growth both organically and through acquisitions. The addition of the Cobb Slater portfolio to BNL’s already extensive range of products and services, will enable us to present an even wider selection of skills and processes to provide innovative solutions to our customers."