US firm NN Inc. , which is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, today announced it will close its manufacturing facility located in Kilkenny, Ireland as part of its long term strategy to rationalise its European operations. Production will cease by early February 2009 with an orderly closure scheduled for June 2009. The closing will impact approximately 70 employees. The facility produces precision steel balls used in a variety of bearing applications for various end markets.
Roderick R. Baty, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “The closing of the Kilkenny plant is a difficult but necessary decision. The rationalisation of our European production is a necessary action to adjust our global manufacturing capacity to current and long term market requirements. This action will in no way affect our ability to provide product to our customers that are currently served from Kilkenny. The current production at Kilkenny will be merged into our other European facilities. We expect to incur cash and non-cash charges of $3.9 million (€3.0 million) and $1.7 million (€1.3 million) respectively in severance, equipment relocation and other closing costs mainly in the fourth quarter of 2008.”
Nicola Trombetti, Vice-President, NN Inc and Managing Director, NN Europe said, “We deeply regret having to make this decision and fully appreciate the impact this move has on all of our outstanding employees in Ireland as well as on their families and the wider community of Kilkenny. The move to close the Kilkenny plant in no way reflects on the quality of the work that has been performed there by a very committed and dedicated workforce over the past 11 years. While the majority of the staff will leave when production ceases early next year, a small number will remain in place and work through to June 2009 to ensure an orderly closure.”
Trombetti concluded, “Indeed, I want to thank and pay tribute to the employees in Kilkenny for their outstanding work as well as to acknowledge the flexibility and cooperation received during recent periods of short-time working as we sought along with the local management team to keep the business viable.”
John Crowley, Managing Director, NN-Euroball Ireland Ltd added, “We are committed to funding a financial package for those employees affected by the closure and providing resources for financial and pension advice as well as working with various State agencies to ensure that our employees stand the best prospect of securing alternative employment. In addition, we will support any initiatives to find an alternative business to operate from the facility we will vacate in the IDA Industrial Park here at Purcellsinch in Kilkenny.”
NN Inc manufactures and supplies high precision metal bearing components, industrial plastic and rubber products and precision metal components to a variety of markets on a global basis. Headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee, NN has 14 manufacturing plants in the United States, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and China. NN Inc. had sales of US $421 million in 2007.
