The Timken Company today announced an important investment in its ability to serve the Chinese and global aerospace markets. Timken's new aerospace precision products center, the first investment of its kind by an international company, will initially employ approximately 200 people in aerospace products manufacturing. Across time, it is expected to include sales, engineering support and customer service capabilities for a range of aerospace bearings and other precision products.
Located in the High Technology Development Zone in Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan province, the new center aligns with China's goal of investing in West China and focusing on key strategic industries for the country. Timken selected Chengdu as the location for its sixth plant in China in part because it is a major Chinese aerospace center with a good technical infrastructure and educated workforce.
"This investment is directly tied to Timken's strategic initiatives to expand our presence in industrial markets in Asia, as well as to build an increasingly diverse portfolio of aerospace precision components and services worldwide," said Michael C. Arnold, president of Timken's Industrial Group. "Timken is proud of its progress in China. The addition of new capabilities and technology to this booming market will help us to serve the aerospace industry in China and around the world."
Initially, more than 200 associates will manufacture ball and cylindrical roller bearings up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) in diameter. The first product shipment from Chengdu is anticipated for late 2007.
"The city of Chengdu is proud to welcome Timken as a new partner in our community and in the rapidly growing Chinese aerospace industry," said Ge Honglin, mayor of Chengdu. "Timken's confidence in our workforce and history of good corporate citizenship, since their arrival in China in 1992, are the ingredients of a strong future relationship with our city."
Timken's social activities in China have included sponsoring cultural exchange with an exhibit at the Beijing World Art Museum, the Special Olympics, which will hold their world games in China in 2007, and ongoing support to the educational charity, Junior Achievement.
Since its entry into China in 1992, The Timken Company has brought its state-of-the-art products and technology as well as innovation to international and local customers. With China headquarters in Shanghai, Timken has an established network of seven sales offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenyang, Wuxi, Chengdu, Hong Kong and Taipei. The company has invested in five large-scale manufacturing sites in Wuxi (3), Yantai, and Suzhou, a logistics center and an engineering training center to better serve its Chinese customers.
"This new location in the capital city of Sichuan province builds on our existing 3,500 employees nationwide, and demonstrates our commitment to help our customers here in China to improve their performance by applying Timken's friction management and power transmission knowledge," said James Gresh, president of Timken in China.
Timken has made significant investments over the past year to expand the range of aerospace components and services it provides to original equipment manufacturers and to the aerospace aftermarket. The company today offers a comprehensive line of products and services, known for consistent performance in critical applications and backed by one of the most stringent quality standards in the world. Timken produces aerospace products that are found in aircraft engines, gearboxes, helicopter transmissions, auxiliary power units, landing wheels, airframes and instrumentation.