BorgWarner Plant In Frankfort Closing At End Of 2021

FRANKFORT, IL — The BorgWarner production plant in Frankfort will be closing at the end of 2021, the company confirmed to Patch. The company told employees of the closure in February.

"BorgWarner is making market-driven adjustments to adapt its cost structure in order to remain competitive in the current environment, including restructuring, closure, or consolidation of manufacturing and/or technical centers in all major regions. As a result, the company has decided to close its production facility in Frankfort," the company told Patch.

When asked for further information, the company declined to give additional details, including the number of employees at the plant.

BorgWarner supplies components and parts for vehicles, and operates facilities across the world. In Illinois, it also operates plants in Dixon, Bellwood and Melrose Park. The plant in Frankfort has been in operation for over 40 years.

BorgWarner currently lets the Frankfort Park District use the baseball field on the company's property.

"The 'Borg Warner' field has provided generations of Frankfort youth to play the game of baseball," park district Executive Director Gina Hassett told Patch. "It is the only Pony-sized field (oldest age group) in the district inventory. If the field was lost, it would impact Frankfort baseball."

Hassett said the park district would be interested in evaluating the property.

"It will be sad to see the Frankfort BorgWarner operation close. BorgWarner has been in Frankfort for many years and are generous to the community," Hassett said. "When the BorgWarner property goes up for sale, the Park District would be interested in evaluating the property."

Hassett said the proximity of the plant to the existing Founders Center and Main Park would be an investment in the future of the district.

"Staff has not been inside the facility to evaluate the conditions or cost that would be required to renovate the space into recreational use," Hassett said. "There have been other agencies across the state that have reinvented industrial properties into community recreation spaces. It would be important to see if that could be done at BorgWarner."

Hassett said the park district has limited capital funds, so the cost of the property could be a challenge for the district.

Patch has reached out to the village of Frankfort for comment as well.