March 19, 2007 — The Timken Co. has announced German-based SMS Meer GmbH as the supplier of major equipment for its $60-million expansion of the small-bar rolling mill at the Harrison steel plant. The expansion, which is expected to be complete in mid-2008, will enable Timken to competitively produce bars down to one inch in diameter.

For the expansion, SMS Meer will install a state-of-the-art sizing mill with a hydraulic roll-gap adjustment system that will automatically adjust the roll gap to maintain bar tolerance. SMS Meer’s three-roll PSM^® Precision Sizing Mill will facilitate the use of a one-pass family in the existing mill and provides free sizing capability down to one inch.

In addition to those leading-edge technological features, the expansion also will incorporate sophisticated inspection and finishing equipment.

"Our targeted customers have expressed strong interest in the increased capability this expansion project represents as we continue to differentiate our steel production," said Tom Moline, Vice President of Steel Manufacturing. "Some of these special bar quality steels are not readily available in the United States, and this expansion will enable us to supply our customers with this crucial product."

SMS Meer GmbH forms part of the Tube, Long Product and Forging Technology Business Area of the SMS group. Headquartered in Germany, SMS GmbH is the managing holding company for companies internationally active in plant construction and mechanical engineering relating to the processing of steel, non-ferrous metals and plastics. In the year 2005, some 9,250 employees worldwide generated a turnover of about EUR 2.33 billion.

Timken supplies innovative friction management and power transmission products and services. With operations in 26 countries and approximately 25,000 employees, Timken reported sales of $5.0 billion in 2006.