The Timken Co. selected the High Technology Development Zone in Chengdu, China as the location of its new aerospace precision products center because it is a major Chinese aerospace center with "good technical infrastructure and an educated workforce."
This center, the sixth plant that Timken operates in China will employ 200 people that will manufacture ball and cylindrical roller bearings up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) in diameter.
"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."
Timken came to China in 1992 and has invested in five large-scale manufacturing sites in Wuxi (3), Yantai, and Suzhou, a logistics center, and a network of seven sales offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenyang, Wuxi, Chengdu, Hong Kong and Taipei.
Over the past year 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, according to a company statement. Timken produces aerospace products that are found in aircraft engines, gearboxes, helicopter transmissions, auxiliary power units, landing wheels, airframes and instrumentation.
