Experts said NTN USA Corp.’s decision to ramp down and close a plant in Columbus will be detrimental to the local economy in the short term and could be a sign of broader weakness.
On Thursday, Illinois-based NTN USA Corp. announced that it is undertaking what it describes as a “significant transformation” of its North American manufacturing operations and will ramp down and close its CVJ East Plant in Columbus within the next two years.
NTN USA Corp. is the headquarters and holding company for Japan-based NTN Corp.’s entities in the Americas, including NTN Driveshaft Inc. in Columbus.
NTN Driveshaft has been producing constant velocity joints, or CV joints, in Columbus since 1991, according to the company’s website. CV joints are used to connect a vehicle’s transmission to its wheels.
While NTN Driveshaft plans to close the CVJ East Plant within two years, the company said…
