Timken raises the bar

Timken has announced plans to invest approximately $5 million in a new induction heat treat line at its steel plant in Canton, Ohio. Timken said in a statement that the line will increase capacity on heat-treated steel bars and tubing.

The new line will harden (quench and temper) bars and tubes up to seven inches in diameter. It also will be capable of other heat treatments, such as normalising and stress relieving. As a result of the investment, overall plant capacity will increase across size ranges up to 11 inches in diameter.

"The added capacity will allow us to capitalise on significant opportunities in the global energy, industrial, automotive and distribution markets," said Linn Osterman, vice president of sales and marketing for Timken's Steel Group. "This investment represents our continuing search for value-added opportunities as part of Timken's broader strategy to drive profitable growth."

Installation of this new line is expected to begin in January 2007 and will be complete by the end of March 2007.