Bearing manufacturing continues to lose jobs as NTN-Bower has cut 49 positions, or just under 10%, from its plant in Macomb, Illinois. 42 of the employees were recent hourly hires still on probation, and 7 were salaried office support.

Macomb produces heavy-duty cylindrical and tapered roller bearings for trucks, forklifts and heavy industrial equipment. The layoffs were in response to the continued down market in those business segments.

The factory was built in 1966 when Bower was a division of Federal-Mogul Corp. In 1985, NTN joined as a joint venture with Federal-Mogul, buying out F-M's share in 1987.

Layoffs at the plant are a blow in Macomb, where NTN-Bower is the largest private employer.

Even after this current round of layoffs, however, NTN-Bower's employment in Macomb remains at around 500 -- historically, a relatively high level for the factory. More than 80 have been hired into Macomb over the past year, and the loss of 49 still leaves it with a net increase.

Macomb has had rounds of layoffs and hiring over the past several years, mirroring the economic sensitivity of its target markets.

2002: NTN-Bower cuts U.S. workforce 10% 2003: NTN-Bower hits Macomb with more job cuts