Timken, Partners Break Ground on Wind Energy R&D Center
07/27/2011 - Timken, Stark State College and the Stark County Port Authority officially broke ground this week on a Wind Energy Research and Development Center, America's first R&D center for large wind-turbine gearbox systems.
The Timken Co., Stark State College and the Stark County Port Authority officially broke ground this week on a Wind Energy Research and Development Center, the first of its kind in America. At the facility, Timken will develop ultra-large bearings and seals on sophisticated equipment that replicates the operating environment of large multi-megawatt wind turbines.
The $11.8-million research and development center, a collaborative effort, will anchor Stark State's new Emerging Technologies Airport Campus on 15 acres of property adjacent to the Akron-Canton Airport in Stark County, Ohio.
"We are very pleased to launch such an important project for the wind energy industry," said Douglas Smith, Timken's Senior Vice President of Technology and Quality. "The groundbreaking was the first step toward improving the performance and efficiency of the mechanical power transmission systems used in the wind energy industry. Being able to simulate real-world conditions at full-scale puts us in a unique position to rapidly assess and qualify new solutions for the industry."
The 18,000-square-foot center will create a unique research practicum and technical certification program for Stark State College students, offering them critical experience conducting research, developing new designs and testing large wind-turbine bearing systems. It also will provide critical training for current and future technicians across the spectrum of operating services required by today's wind turbine manufacturers and operators.
Joint funding for the project combines more than $6 million invested by Timken; $2.1 million from Ohio's Third Frontier Commission; and $1.5 million in loans from the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority's Advanced Energy Jobs Stimulus Program.
"Stark State College is delighted to partner with The Timken Company in creating this new Wind Energy Research and Development Center," said John O'Donnell, of Stark State College. "The groundbreaking is an exciting first step to develop industry-leading clean energy academic programs and provide future job opportunities for students."
Timken provides innovative friction management and power transmission products and services. The company’s 20,000 employees operating from locations in 29 countries generated sales of $4.1 billion in 2010.
Stark State College is a comprehensive, two-year institution of higher education with a mission to provide high-value, student-centered associate degrees and professional development. Located in North Canton, the college offers more than 230 associate degrees, degree options and one-year and career enhancement certificates in business and entrepreneurial studies, engineering technologies, health sciences, information technologies, education and human services, math and sciences, and liberal arts.
The Stark Development Board is a private not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation that provides economic development programs and services to retain and attract new business investment and growth in Stark County. The Stark Development Board also serves by contract to provide economic development services to the Stark County Port Authority, a government entity created by Stark County government to assist in economic development.
