This is Timken's latest strategic investment in Asia. The new facility was built in nearly record time to provide the ultra-large bore bearings needed to serve China's wind-turbine demands.

"We have brought more than a century of power-transmission and materials expertise to this partnership striving to meet sustainable energy needs in China," said See Leong Fang, president of Timken China. "This new investment in Xiangtan is dedicated to help provide an environmentally sustainable source of power for China's rapidly expanding economy, in line with the Chinese government's goals of increasing capacity in renewable energies. Those renewable energies - and wind energy in particular - deploy emerging technology to which Timken can make a significant contribution."

Construction of the facility started in January 2009. Manufacturing equipment was installed, tested and approved, and workers were trained to ensure the facility was ready to meet all process and quality requirements for Timken-brand products.

"More than 30 Timken associates from the United States, India and China worked together as a team to help us ramp up this new facility in Xiangtan," said Christopher Coughlin, president of Timken's Process Industries Segment. "They ensured consistency in every facet of design, quality, installation and production. This consistency across our wind bearing plants on all three major continents is a Timken advantage that our customers value."

The first bearing produced at the new plant is a customized main shaft bearing designed to provide a new level of reliability in XEMC Windpower's multi-megawatt direct-drive turbine.

Timken also retooled and expanded its U.S. facilities in Asheboro, N.C. and Tyger River, S.C. to serve its customers. This is in addition to existing wind-bearing production in Wuxi, China; Chennai, India; and Ploiesti, Romania. The company also provides clean steel from its facilities in Canton, Ohio, for its own production and various wind-energy components for other customers.