Barnes Group To Close Productions At Bristol Facility

By Dean Wright, The Bristol Press

Aug. 3, 2022

Longtime Bristol manufacturing power and global business, Barnes Group, announced Thursday it would be closing its production operations at its Engineered Components building in Bristol.

According to a statement from the company, the production operations facility has around 95 employees and has long been a pillar of the Barnes Group Associated Spring name in its mission to create, assemble and stamp parts for washers and transmission springs. Barnes Group representatives said because of supply chain issues, inflation across the country, as well as the rise in electric vehicle creation and continued decline with American powertrain automotive production demand, the Bristol operation is set to close. The Barnes Group aims to make its Engineered Components division more economically competitive and efficient.

Work at the Bristol location will be transferred to other Engineered Components spaces or discontinued. The Bristol facility is anticipated to be closed completely by mid-2023.

Barnes Group representatives said the announcement does not include any other manufacturing locations and the corporate headquarters will remain in Bristol.

“Following a thorough and strategic review of our global manufacturing footprint with a focus on ensuring that we effectively serve our customers in the most efficient and cost competitive manner, Barnes has made the difficult decision to close its entire Associated Spring - Bristol facility, located in Bristol, CT to realign its manufacturing operations. The facility will close by mid-2023 and will impact all employees who are employed by the Associated Spring - Bristol facility. Our plan is to provide as much assistance as possible to our employees throughout the transition process,” read a statement provided by Morgan Ferrarotti, director of corporate marketing and communications.

“It’s a tough one to hear,” said Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce CEO and President Cindy Bombard. “It’s an over 100 year-old company, started and based in Bristol. I think everybody in Bristol knew somebody that worked at Associated Spring and not even just Bristol.”

Bombard said she understood tough business positions and respected the decision.

“It’s going to be a sorely missed spot,” said Bombard.