Bright future

AMONG the many successful companies in Newark over the years, one stands out for its prominent and enduring role. Whether in the guise of Ransome and Marles, RHP, or NSK, the ball bearing manufacturer has been at the heart of Newark life for more than a century.

In that time the fortunes of the company and the town have often been intertwined.

Its darkest hour came in 1941 with the greatest single loss of life in Newark at Ransome and Marles, when a German bombing raid claimed the lives of 41 employees.

The Northern Road factory has provided a living for thousands of townsfolk. In the past it has been Newark’s largest employer.

When the global recession hit, Newark felt the crisis keenly as the firm made severe cutbacks in order to survive.

But there is now a renewed sense of optimism with the announcement of a multi-million pound modernisation programme.

The money is paying for new equipment and a reorganisation of the plant’s layout.

A key part of the plan is providing space for further expansion, and more investment is expected in the coming years to enable that to happen.

The recruitment of apprentices for the first time in more than a decade is another encouraging sign of commitment to the plant’s long-term security.

This all follows an impressive turnaround in the past few years, with both staff and production back to similar, pre-recession, levels.

NSK’s positive vision for its Newark plant provides hope of a prosperous future for the historic factory, its workers and the town.