Cherokee County bearing plant that employs 225 to shut down in late 2023

Dec 31, 2023

Reporter - Spartanburg

The Timken Co. announced on Jan. 16 it plans to close its Gaffney roller bearing manufacturing plant in Cherokee County by the end of 2023. The plant employs 225 workers and opened in 1971. Chris Lavender/Staff

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GAFFNEY — A plant that manufactures roller bearings in Gaffney for more than half a century is closing at the end of 2023.

The Timken Co. has operated the factory at 100 Timken Road since 1971. The pending closure was announced Jan. 16.

It was one of the first major industries outside of textiles that opened in Cherokee County more than 50 years ago.

"They helped diversity the economy and had an impact on many lives in Cherokee County," Jim Cook, Cherokee County Development Board executive director, told The Post and Courier. "At one time they had over 1,000 employees not that long ago, and over the past five years they got down to 225 employees. It's not a total surprise, but it is sad news to hear."

Cook said he is hopeful once Timken closes the plant it will find another use by another company.

Timken's other operations in the area include bearing manufacturing plants in Union County and Rutherfordton, N.C. The company specializes in friction management, power transmissions and engineered bearings.

The roller bearing plant at 100 Timken Road in Gaffney employs 225 workers. The Timken Co. announced on Jan. 16 it plans to close the plant at the end of 2023. Chris Lavender/Staff

"Yesterday, we notified associates at our bearings facility in Gaffney that we will be closing the site and gradually winding down operations by the end of the year," Timken spokesman Scott Schroeder said. "While difficult, we're making this change to streamline our operations and restructure our manufacturing footprint to better compete in the global market."

Schroeder said employees at the Gaffney plant will have an opportunity to apply for open positions at other Timken locations. The company plans to provide the 225 employees at the Gaffney plant with at least 60 days' notice prior to their last day.

"We wanted to be transparent and provide as much time as possible to associates so they can plan for their future," Schroeder said.

While the pending closure of the plant is a loss for Cherokee County, Cook said economic development interest remains strong. In 2022, more than $600 million was pledged in capital investment by companies in the county.

"We just had the best capital investment year in 15 years," Cook said. "It was up from previous years. We have got other projects we are working on and will have some announcements soon."

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Reporter - Spartanburg

Chris Lavender is a reporter for The Post and Courier Spartanburg

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