WEAF member Barden Bearings – Plymouth's factory saved from closure securing 400 South West High Technology Jobs

WEAF is pleased to share some excellent news regarding Plymouth based Barden Bearings.
 
A deal has been completed by the German-based parent firm Schaeffler Group, which owns the Barden Corporation (UK) Ltd factory in Estover, to sell the plant to HQW Holding (UK) Ltd.
 
Under the agreement the Plymouth factory will continue to supply Shaeffler with its products. It means the factory will stay open and all jobs will be kept.
 
Jon Everett, managing director at Barden, said he was delighted with a “successful outcome” to talks between the firms involved.
 
“All the jobs will be saved – it’s great news,” he said. “It’s business as usual, production continues in Plymouth and the Barden name will stay.
 
WEAF supported, Jon and his team, backing the need to secure the factory and the high-tech jobs.
 
WEAF CEO Colin Turner stated that “bearings were the building blocks of a high value manufacturing economy. The news that Jon Everett and the team in Plymouth have secured the factory is excellent news and WEAF will continue support Barden in the South West”
 
In November 2018, Schaeffler said it wanted to shut the Plymouth factory, which had operated for more than 51 years, and move production overseas.
 
The Plymouth Estover operation produces precision bearings for cars, aircraft, the nuclear industry, missiles and satellites.