NEWS

Timken Extends Technology Agreement with Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR 'Car of Tomorrow' Design to be a Primary Focus CANTON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2007--The Timken Company (NYSE:TKR) announced today that it has extended its agreement with Joe Gibbs Racing as an official technical partner of the NASCAR racing organization. Timken will provide product development and technical engineering across Joe Gibbs Racing's multiple team operations, including the Nextel Cup Series where the "Car of Tomorrow" race car design will debut in March. For the last three years, Timken has worked collaboratively with the engineering team at Joe Gibbs Racing to develop and test technologies that improve the car's powertrain and driveline performance, delivering longer life, improved fuel economy and higher horsepower availability. This year the Car of Tomorrow vehicle, a NASCAR design initiative to improve driver safety, performance, competition and cost-management for the teams, has already had significant engineering implications for all competitors in the Nextel Cup. As a result, Joe Gibbs Racing has turned to Timken for help in developing technologies that will drive performance while still conforming to the new NASCAR specifications. "With the Car of Tomorrow design, NASCAR has given us defined parameters within which we can work," said David Holden, research and development engineer at Joe Gibbs Racing. "That brings more parity to the sport, but it also poses tremendous design challenges for us in terms of loads, stiffness and weight. Fortunately, working with Timken engineers, we are able to accommodate some of those changing conditions and still field very competitive cars." Products like Timken's engineered surfaces coatings, alloy steel from Timken operations in Canton and Timken(R) RacePac(TM), an integrated hub and bearing assembly specially designed for NASCAR teams, demonstrate Timken's ongoing commitment to quality, safety and reliability to meet the high-performance demands of the motorsports industry. In addition, the company will continue to provide other innovative bearing and steel products to Joe Gibbs Racing that will be used throughout the car, from the suspension and steering systems to the engine and transmission. "We have many partners, but Timken's technical support contributes directly to our ability to win races," said J.D. Gibbs, president of the race group. "As the inherent challenges of the Car of Tomorrow materialize, we expect to lean heavily on Timken and its technical expertise for solutions." "We value our relationship with Joe Gibbs Racing because it allows us to take what we have learned at the racetrack under high speed and tough conditions and leverage that knowledge into new solutions for all of our customers' benefit," said Alastair R. Deane, Timken senior vice president - technology. "Our involvement in the sport translates into the creation of real value for our automotive, industrial and steel customers as we all have mutual challenges related to products that handle heat, speed and wear." About Joe Gibbs Racing Joe Gibbs Racing, one of the most successful organizations in NASCAR with three Nextel Cup championships to their credit since 2000, fields teams in the Nextel Cup, Busch Series as well as successful diversity and driver development programs. The Huntersville, N.C.-based organization is owned by legendary NFL Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs. About Team Timken Motorsports For innovative, high-performance racing components and industry-leading technical support, the world of motorsports turns to Timken. Superior engineering and product durability make Timken(R) bearings and steel a trusted choice of the most popular touring series, racing professionals and enthusiasts at all levels. More races are won with Timken products. In North America, The Timken Company has technical affiliations with Indy Racing League (IRL) teams, National Association for Stock Car Racing (NASCAR) and one of its most successful teams, Joe Gibbs Racing. The company is also a proud sponsor of Team Epsilon Euskadi of the Renault World Series in Europe, Team Green Thunder in the Formula Off Road Series in Iceland and several race teams in Australia, South Africa and Latin America. About The Timken Company The Timken Company (NYSE:TKR, http://www.timken.com) keeps the world turning, with innovative friction management and power transmission products and services that enable customers to perform faster and more smoothly and efficiently. With sales of $5.0 billion in 2006, operations in 27 countries and approximately 25,000 employees, Timken is Where You Turn(TM) for better performance. SOURCE: The Timken Company

Cylindrical Roller Bearings come in 3,000 types. NKE AUSTRIA GmbH Steyr-Gleink A - 4407 Austria Feb 09, 2007 Made from clean bearing steel, Single-Row Cylindrical Roller Bearings are available 164 sizes in design variants NU, NJ, and NUP. Bearing cages are offered in roller-guided and outer ring-guided versions and are made from brass and polyamide. Optimized geometries of raceways and rolling elements maximize loading capacity, while modified cage design facilitates formation of lubricant film. Misalignments can be compensated through modified contact geometry and crowned inner raceways.

New Series of Single Row Cylindrical Roller Bearings from NKE - Unlimited Possibilities for Equally as Many Applications Release date: February 1, 2007 Steyr, Austria, February 2007. Bearing manufacturer NKE Austria introduces its new series of single row cylindrical roller bearings. The salient feature of this series is the wide range of variants it comprises: more than 3,000 types are made to order in NKE's new assembly plant in Steyr, Austria. In addition to being exceptionally flexible, the modular production facility enables very short lead times on all products. The applications of the new single row cylindrical roller bearings are as numerous as its variants: they are used in pumps and compressors, mechanical presses, electric motors, gearboxes, traction motors and axle bearings for railway vehicles, in steelworks and many other industrial applications. The new roller bearings are available in 164 sizes in design variants NU, NJ and NUP. The bearing cages are available in roller-guided and outer ring-guided versions and are made from brass and polyamide, with pressed steel versions available soon. In addition to radial clearance groups CN (C0) as standard, C3 and C4 groups are also available. Special versions, for example traction motor bearings (SQ1), wheel set bearings (SQ2) and electrically insulated bearings (SQ77) are available at short lead times. To maximize their lifespan, the new cylindrical roller bearings are made from clean bearing steel. The superior surface finish of the raceways further helps reduce friction as well as lowering the operating temperature. The optimized geometries of raceways and rolling elements increase the loading capacity, while a modified cage design improves the formation of lubricant film. Thanks to the improved design of bearing guiding flanges for NJ and NUP variants, the bearings can take up higher axial loads. Misalignments can be compensated through modified contact geometry and crowned inner raceways. Tighter tolerances for the roller sorting ensure a uniform load distribution. In addition to these numerous technical benefits, the new cylindrical roller bearings feature optimum operational reliability and maximum cost effectiveness. All NKE bearings are subjected to stringent quality procedures and are tested using state-of-the-art procedures and equipment. The Steyr site is certified to ISO 9001 (design, development, production and distribution of bearings) and ISO 14001. In recognition of the exceptional quality of NKE's products, the company was awarded the prestigious Austria Quality Seal last year. NKE at Motion, Drive & Automation, Hanover, Germany, 16 - 20 April 2007: Hall 021, Stand E12 Company information: NKE Austria GmbH is a bearing manufacturer with headquarters in Steyr, Austria. Founded in 1996 by a group of senior staff members of former company Steyr Wälzlager, NKE offers both standard and special bearings for all industrial applications. NKE's core functions - engineering, product development, final processing of components, assembly, quality assurance, logistics, and sales and marketing - are centralized at its Steyr headquarters. The site is accredited to ISO 9001:2000 (design, development, production and distribution of bearings) and ISO 14001:2004. Its wide range of standard bearings is available from stock or at short production lead-times. It also provides tailored products and solutions. In addition to product and application development, NKE also provides a full range of technical services, consulting, documentation and training. NKE's products are distributed through 14 international representative offices and more than 240 distribution outlets in 55 countries. Contact: NKE AUSTRIA GmbH Janet Mo, Marketing Ennser Str. 41a A-4407 Steyr-Gleink, Austria Tel: +43 7252 8666 7345 Fax: +43 7252 8666 759 E-mail: j.mo@nke.at Internet: www.nke.at

Messinger Bearings Increases Size Capacity to Largest in the USA Bearing Market PHILADELPHIA, PA, January 18, 2007 - Messinger Bearings, a Kingsbury, Inc. brand, has refurbished and installed what is believed to be the largest Vertical Turret Lathe (VTL) in the United States for use in the bearing industry. Now operational, this VTL enables Messinger to manufacture and refurbish rolling element bearings up to 20 feet, 6 inches O.D. Bearings of this size are common in large Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), radar antenna systems and oversized equipment such as cranes and stacker re-claimers, which are typically used in the coal processing industry. Because of the enormous size of these units, refurbishment is a cost-effective alternative to new bearings for these applications. The rebuilt VTL was originally designed and built by Messinger many years ago specifically for the manufacture of large diameter bearings. It is the only one of its kind. Prior to the acquisition of Messinger by Kingsbury, Inc. in 2004, the VTL was previously used to manufacture what was then recognized as "the largest bearing manufactured in the US" at 15 ft. 6 in. O.D. The bearing was designed and built for NASA, Langley, VA and remains in use today at their subsonic wind tunnel. Having this capacity in the US now allows customers to significantly improve lead times by avoiding the necessity of sending their larger bearings overseas for repair. In addition, domestic customers can more easily witness their repairs, if they wish, at Messinger's plant in Philadelphia, PA. ABOUT KINGSBURY, INC. AND MESSINGER BEARINGS Headquartered in Philadelphia, Kingsbury designs and manufactures a wide variety of standard and custom fluid-film thrust and journal bearings for rotating equipment applications, including hydroelectric turbines, gas and steam turbines, compressors, gearboxes, pumps, air preheaters and ship propulsion systems. Today, the company maintains its position as the industry leader through continuing research and development, engineering integrity, and world-class customer service. The Messinger Bearings Brand was purchased by Kingsbury, Inc. in February 2004, and provides custom rolling element bearings for large, unique or unusual applications in harsh operating environments. Messinger's markets include rock crushing, pulp/paper making, steel, beverage bottling, antennas, coal pulverizing, tunnel boring, and various government defense applications, to name a few.

Hybrid Bearings insulate against stray electric currents. SKF USA Inc. Kulpsville, PA 19443 Feb 01, 2007 Used in variable-speed electric motors, SKF® hybrid bearings with silicon nitride rolling elements and steel rings eliminate electric arc bearing damage and resulting premature bearing failure. Density minimizes centrifugal force and friction, while hardness promotes wear resistance. Degree of inelasticity provides stiffness and minimizes deflection under load. Depending on bore size, cages are glass fiber-reinforced polyamide or pressed steel.

Skf® Hybrid Bearings with Ceramic Rolling Elements Insulate Against Stray Electric Currents Release date: January 29, 2007 SKF® hybrid bearings with silicon nitride rolling elements and steel rings provide insulation against stray currents in large variable speed electric motors to eliminate electric arc bearing damage and resulting premature bearing failure. The ceramic rolling elements further make these bearings lighter, harder, and more durable alternatives to conventional all-steel counterparts. In addition to their insulating properties, silicon nitride balls are 40% less dense than steel balls, which reduces centrifugal force and friction to promote faster, cooler running and longer service and lubricant life; harder than steel for enhanced wear resistance against hard particles, contaminants, and vibration; and highly inelastic for increased bearing stiffness and reduced deflection under load to promote reliable performance. Silicon nitride balls also experience less wear and provide better bearing service life under poor lubrication conditions compared with conventional steel bearings. Standard types include hybrid single row deep groove ball bearings with bore diameters from 5mm to 110mm; sealed and greased-for-intended life ball bearings protected by steel-reinforced synthetic rubber seals and filled with premium lubricant; and open basic design bearings available without seals. Cages are glass fiber-reinforced polyamide or pressed steel, depending on bore size. Customized hybrid bearing versions can be developed to satisfy particular application requirements. Contact SKF USA Inc., 1510 Gehman Road, Kulpsville, PA 19443. Phone: 800-440-4SKF (toll-free). E-mail: skfusainfo@skf.com Web site: www.skfusa.com

Linear Ball Bearings feature pre-lubricated, sealed design. SKF Linear Motion & Precision Technologies Olney, IL 62450 Jan 29, 2007 Available in compact and standard metric versions, Linear Ball Bearings are fitted with integral double-lip seals to retain lubricant and protect against contamination. Inner lip prevents lubricant from escaping within bearing, while external lip wipes shaft surface as bearing moves. Plastic cages carry hardened steel raceway segments and guide ball sets. Shaft diameters range from 3-80 mm and dynamic load ratings range from 60-37,500 N, depending on size and type.

SKF® Pre-Lubricated Sealed Linear Ball Bearings Save Time and Money on Greasing Release date: January 10, 2007 New SKF® pre-lubricated sealed linear ball bearings can save time and money typically spent on the bearing lubrication process, which can be especially significant in high-volume applications. Users can further realize environmental benefits by avoiding the "non-green" conditions associated with grease application. These unique linear ball bearings are available both in compact and standard metric versions. (Pre-lubricated inch series bearings can be ordered.) All are fitted with integral double-lip seals to retain the lubricant and protect against contamination. Seals consist of an inner lip that prevents lubricant from escaping within the bearing and an external lip that wipes the shaft surface as the bearing moves. The linear ball bearings incorporate plastic cages carrying hardened steel raceway segments and guiding the ball sets. Their recirculating balls reduce friction and provide unlimited stroke to promote optimized performance. Shaft diameters range from 3mm to 80mm and basic dynamic load ratings range from 60N to 37500N, depending on size and type. Special greases for these pre-lubricated bearings can be selected to satisfy application-specific requirements. Examples include food-grade greases and lubricants ideally suited for clean rooms or vacuum environments, among others. Bearings can also be provided with raceway segments and balls manufactured from high-alloy stainless steel for corrosion-resistance. Combined with SKF stainless shafts, all-stainless designs can be realized. Custom designs can broaden solutions for particular applications. Contact Sean M. Feyrer, SKF Linear Motion & Precision Technologies, a business division of SKF USA Inc., 1530 Valley Center Parkway, Bethlehem, PA 18017-2266. Phones: 800-541-3624 (toll-free) or 610-861-3741. Fax: 610-861-3737. Web site: www.linearmotion.skf.com (SKF® is a registered trademark of SKF USA Inc.)

SNR signs a distribution agreement with IKO  SNR acquires a needle roller bearing range A long-term distribution marketing agreement has just been entered into by the company Nippon Thompson Europe (N.T.E.), a subsidiary of Nippon Thompson Co. Ltd, owner of the IKO trademark, whose registered office is in Tokyo, Japan, and the company SNR ROULEMENTS, whose registered office is in Annecy, France. Under this agreement, exclusive distribution marketing of N.T.E.'s bearings and needle-roller components is entrusted to SNR ROULEMENTS for France, Germany, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Bosnia - Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro. Nippon Thompson Co. is a worldwide leader in needle-roller bearings. It was established in 1950, has a staff force of 737 and owns 8 plants in Japan. Its 2004 turnover was 43.9 billions of yens, 320 millions euros (50 % needle-roller bearings, 50 % linear guidance and other products). Products sold under the IKO trademark are covered by numerous patents, and have a reputation for quality and innovation the world over. SNR ROULEMENTS, which was established in 1946, has a staff force of 4,000 and owns 10 plants throughout the world. SNR is one of the leading worldwide manufacturers of ball bearings and cylindrical, tapered and spherical roller bearings, with a turnover of € 506 million in 2004. These two companies are genuinely complementary, particularly in terms of their respective sales and marketing presence. This agreement aims to develop the sales of needle-roller bearings in the territories covered by the agreement.

NTN Bearing to relocate units to China — Also plans new venture  tie-up with NEI HYDERABAD, Dec. 13,2006   NTN Bearing, the $2.3-billion Japanese company is planning to relocate three of its manufacturing facilities to China from Japan to take advantage of the low cost labour bring down the cost of production and enhance margins. The Japanese giant was also looking at India as its production base for the region. Announcing this here on Friday, the Managing Director of NTN Bearing Singapore, Mr Yoshihiro Inami, told newspersons that the move was part of the corporation's new strategic initiatives. These initiatives include strengthening business development capacity, developing high profit nature by improving cost competitiveness, reorganising of production to improve competitiveness and speeding up research and development, Mr Inami said. NTN, which currently commands over 16 per cent share of Rs 2,000-crore Indian bearing market along with National Engineering Industries Ltd (NEI) belonging to the Rs 4,000-crore C.K. Birla group, also commands 12 per cent share of the exclusively imported bearing market which was estimated at Rs 500 crore. Stating that NTN was among the fastest growing bearing brands in India in terms of absolute market volume, Mr Inami said the corporation expects to attain the industry leader status in India by 2005. Terming Indian bearing market as a difficult one, Mr Inami attributed it to low quality perception, equally low price support, rampant duplication, and availability of cheap and spurious alternatives. "But for us at NTN and NEI, this market scenario has given us more opportunities for growth than threats," he said. According to the NEI Deputy General Manager, Mr Sanjeev Taparia, NTN has shown interest in making India as its production hub in the region and export the bearings from the Indian facility. However, according to Mr Taparia, this new facility would be set up at NEI's Jaipur unit to cater to the needs of NTN. Stating that small quantities of speciality bearings were currently being manufactured and exported for NTN, Mr Taparia said dedicated production facility would be set up by NEI once the test marketing process was completed. According to him, NTN has also shown interest in investing in the new venture to be set up by NEI, details of which would be worked out at a later stage. NEI is currently engaged in the production of ball bearings, taper roller bearings and cartridge taper bearings under its own brand - NBC - in technical collaboration with NTN. It also markets the complete range of NTN bearings outside the range of NBC, Mr Taparia said.

Russian leading bearing company  EBC to enter thru 100 pc FDI route Plans Rs 124-cr manufacturing unit in Hyderabad Project details The high precision bearings plant on the outskirts of Hyderabad would manufacture large size bearings of outer diameter between 400-700 mm. The company would initially manufacture import substitutes catering to heavy industries such as power plants, steel plants, mining and windmills. Hyderabad , July 3 2006 European Bearing Corporation (EBC), Russia's largest manufacturer of bearings, is entering India with its manufacturing facility at Hyderabad. It would be the first Russian private enterprise to foray into the country through 100 per cent foreign direct investment route. According to the EBC Bearings (India) Managing Director, Mr Martin Kunzmann, this is the first international project of EBC and also the first large size bearings manufacturing project in India. Addressing the media here on Monday, Mr Kunzmann said the project is estimated to involve an investment of $30 million (about Rs 124 crore) in phases till 2008-end. The first phase of production is expected to commence during the second quarter of next year. He said the high precision bearings plant on the outskirts of Hyderabad would manufacture large size bearings of outer diameter between 400-700 mm. "We are going to lay special emphasis on core sector industries such as railways, steel, mining, cement, power and transmission. The unique feature of the Hyderabad facility will be a dedicated area for vendors to set up their facilities under strict supervision and compliance norms of the main plant," he said. Market size Stating that the Indian bearings market is estimated at around Rs 3,500 crore with an annual growth of 8-10 per cent, Mr Kunzmann said the company expects to beat the industry growth rate and capture a 13 per cent market share by 2009-end. According to him, the company would initially manufacture import substitutes catering to heavy industries such as power plants, steel plants, mining and windmills. At present, European Bearing Corporation's sales in India were around $3 million through imports route. Stating that the Indian facility offers several advantages to EBC, Mr Kunzmann said the company would be in a comfortable position to price its domestically manufactured products at 10-15 per cent below the premium segment products available in the market.

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