McNeil & NRM moves production, cuts jobs in Akron

AKRON (Oct. 12)—Tire industry machinery maker McNeil & NRM Inc. has moved its prime equipment production to Romania and reduced the hourly work force at its Akron facility by about half. The moves were made to reduce growing labor costs, according to John McCormick, executive vice president of sales. About 70 workers at the company have lost their jobs. McNeil & NRM´s heavy production—especially tire-building machinery and curing presses—will be done at machine tool maker TMG in Bucharest, Romania. Some small-scale production and supply of spare parts, retrofit kits and rotor assemblies will remain in Akron. TMG and McNeil & NRM are owned by the same parent, French firm Yared Group.