Timken, Local 1645, and the United Auto Workers (UAW) jointly announced agreement on a new contract.

Effective September 12, 2004 through September 8, 2007, the new contract will cover all production and skilled trade employees at the company's facilities in Torrington, Conn.

The agreement was ratified by a large majority of the UAW membership in a meeting on Thursday evening, September 9.

The Timken Co. is a leading global manufacturer of highly engineered bearings and alloy steels and a provider of related products and services with operations in 27 countries. A Fortune 500 company, Timken recorded 2003 sales of $3.8 billion and employed approximately 26,000 at year-end.