The Timken Company would be opening of a new bearing manufacturing plant in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Chennai�s Mahindra World City. The plant, Timken�s third major facility in India, will make tapered roller bearings for customers in global industrial markets.

�This is an important addition to Timken�s expanding presence in India,� said Gordon W. Robinson, managing director of Timken�s Indian operations. �Chennai is a rapidly growing location in a vibrant, dynamic economy where we have the opportunity to make quality, high-performance products for our global customers.�

In addition to the new plant in Chennai, Timken operates a bearing manufacturing plant in Jamshedpur and a Global Technology Center in Bangalore that has the capability to design, develop and test new friction management and power transmission technologies for customers in India and around the world.

�The opening of our Chennai facility helps us achieve our core strategic objective of accelerating growth in Asia and in industrial markets,� said James W. Griffith, Timken president and chief executive officer, who was on hand for the official opening of the Chennai plant.



�Global demand for industrial products is at historic levels, and this additional capacity will allow us to meet the needs of our customers with products that meet Timken�s global standards for quality, performance and value. The success of our other Indian operations gave us the confidence to make this investment in the company�s future right here in Chennai.�

Timken had announced plans to build its industrial bearing plant in Chennai in October 2006 for approximately $25 million.

Timken now employs approximately 120 people in Chennai and more than 1,000 in India.

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