NTN Bower is continuing operations at its Macomb plant whilst pressing ahead with plans for expansion through the construction of a new facility to the east of the existing site. The project, valued at approximately $100 million, will cover around 200,000 square feet and is expected to create 80 full-time positions. This overview examines the construction of NTN Bower’s new plant, its implications for the company’s production capacity and the employment opportunities it will generate.
Key Features of the NTN Bower Project
The company specialises in the manufacture of roller bearings, both tapered and cylindrical. According to NTN Bower’s president, the new plant will allow for the installation of additional production lines.
Several months of intensive work went into developing the project, during which negotiations took place involving the company, the city, the Macomb Area Economic Development Corporation and the state.
The project was first announced at a press conference at Macomb City Hall and has been welcomed as a significant expansion – all the more notable given the broader national economic climate. The project brings with it a number of concrete benefits:
- a direct investment of $100 million;
- job creation across the construction and trades sectors;
- a long-term commitment to sustaining employment in advanced manufacturing.
Construction is scheduled for completion within a year.
The project also includes $1.4 million earmarked for improvements to the junction of Bower Road and US Highway 136, encompassing the installation of traffic signals, the addition of a turning lane and a new southbound road section.
These changes are expected to improve both passenger and freight traffic flow in the vicinity of the NTN Bower site. A further benefit is the anticipated stimulus to retail and commercial activity, driven by the modernisation and improved appearance of the company’s entrance.
A History of NTN Bower in Macomb
NTN Bower has a long-established presence in Macomb. Roller bearing production was first launched at the site in 1965, and the plant has grown steadily to become one of the region’s largest employers. In 1993, NTN Bower relocated its headquarters to Macomb, underscoring the local plant’s importance to the company’s broader North American operations.
Today the company forms part of the international NTN Corporation, one of the world’s largest bearing manufacturers, serving customers across a range of industries:
- automotive;
- agricultural;
- construction;
- industrial.
The company supplies bearings on a regular basis for a wide variety of vehicles and equipment.
Over the course of its history, NTN Bower has successfully introduced a number of technological innovations in bearing manufacture – notably in raceway surface treatment, advanced roller design and the use of modern materials. Continuous product and process development has earned the company a strong reputation as a dependable supplier to the heavy machinery and industrial equipment sectors.
The Wider Economic Impact on the Region
Beyond the direct creation of new jobs, the project has broader implications for the regional economy. Building the plant will require contractors, haulage firms and construction material suppliers, generating additional demand for local businesses in Macomb.
The resulting growth in headcount is likely to stimulate retail trade, the housing market and the services sector. The launch of the new facility will also bring increased tax receipts into the local budget, channelling additional resources into urban infrastructure and public services.