GOTHENBURG, Sweden—Swedish engineering group SKF is moving ahead with plans to close its production facility in Stonehouse, England. The supplier of bearings, seals and mechatronics originally disclosed the decision in December as part of plan to consolidate its aerospace manufacturing footprint in Europe.
Following a statutory period of consultation, SKF confirmed that it would close the plant on Dec. 31, 2021.
The unit, which employs 185, supplies bearings to Rolls-Royce Engines, Pratt and Whitney, GE, and other international aerospace companies, according to SKF's website.
"This consolidation is necessary in order to secure a continued competitive offering for the aerospace industry," Bernd Stephan, president, automotive and aerospace, said in December. The aerospace industry, he added, is "shifting away from legacy engines and aircraft to more modern ones.
"We will be able to make better use of more modern machines and manufacturing technologies at our sites in other parts of Europe."