The Timken Company Receives Invest in France Automotive Award

    CANTON, Ohio, March 6 The Timken Company today received
the prestigious Invest in France Automotive Award for its long record of
operating in France and for its plans to build a new technology center at its
Colmar bearing manufacturing facility.  James W. Griffith, president and chief
operating officer, accepted the award from the Invest in France Agency in a
ceremony held during the Society of Automotive Engineers' (SAE) 2001 World
Congress in Detroit, Mich.
    (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991012/TKRLOGO )
    "We regard this very prestigious award as a symbol of both our past and
our future," said Mr. Griffith in accepting the award on behalf of thousands
of Timken Company associates and retirees worldwide.  "We have maintained a
presence in France for more than 70 years.  Our new technology center at
Colmar will expand the company's global research and development network.  It
will strengthen our research and product development capability and put us
closer to more of our customers.  And it will create 40 jobs." Operations are
expected to begin by mid-year.
    The Timken Company began its activities in France in 1918 when it licensed
production of Timken(R) tapered roller bearings for use as replacements on
American trucks operating in the French army during World War I.  In 1928, the
company opened a plant to produce tapered roller bearings in the Paris suburb
of Asnieres.  In 1960, the company moved operations to a new facility in
Colmar.  Today, this facility employs 1,000 people and manufactures some
600 different products or part numbers, with the capacity to produce up to
20 million bearings a year.  The plant serves a broad range of customers,
including PSA Peugeot Citroen, Mercedes Benz, Renault, Volkwagen/Audi, Scania,
John Deere, Volvo, Caterpillar, Linde, Fiat/Iveco, J.I. Case, Jaguar and
others.
    In addition to announcing plans for a new technology center, the company
last year established a new distribution center in Strasbourg, to streamline
warehousing and shipping operations for its European customers.
    The Invest in France Agency of the French government has as its mission to
foster and facilitate international companies' business development in France.
This year marks the sixth year the agency has honored leading North American
automotive companies for significant investments made during the preceding
year.  Attending the awards ceremony were senior management executives from
leading automotive original equipment manufacturers, as well as key executives
from automotive supplier companies.
    The award trophy is a limited edition crystal automobile designed and
fabricated by the world-renowned glasswork manufacturer Compagnie Francaise du
Cristal Daum.  "The crystal car will have a place of honor in our corporate
lobby so visitors can see the evidence of our long and strong relationship
with France," added Mr. Griffith.
    The Timken Company ( http://www.timken.com ) is a leading
international manufacturer of highly engineered bearings, alloy and specialty
steels and components, as well as related products and services.  With
operations in 24 countries, the company employs about 20,500 people worldwide
and recorded 2000 sales of U.S. $2.6 billion.