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The Timken Company Commissions New Rolling Mill

10 August 1998

The Timken Company Commissions New Rolling Mill

            Ohio Governor Voinovich Praises $55 Million Investment

    CANTON, Ohio, Aug. 10 - The Timken Company today
commissioned a new $55 million rolling mill in ceremonies at its Harrison
Steel Plant in Canton.
    The rolling mill was officially commissioned by Ohio Gov. George V.
Voinovich in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.  Also taking part was U.S. Rep. Ralph
Regula.
    "This expansion is an exciting investment in the state of Ohio and in the
workforce of this advanced manufacturing company," said Gov. Voinovich.  "It
is continuing evidence of business and government joining together with our
working men and women to keep Ohio moving forward.  It is a testament to
Ohio's leadership in the steel industry."
    Congressman Regula, Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, noted that
the project is a major investment and will benefit not only Canton residents
but surrounding communities as well.  "It is a vote of confidence in this
community and its workforce."
    To accommodate the new rolling mill and other processing equipment, the
company added about 120,000 square feet to the Harrison Steel Plant.  The new
mill will produce steel with better size and straightness characteristics and
better surface quality.  Improvements in the cooling beds will result in fewer
variations in hardness and microstructure, leading to easier and better
machinability.
    "This expansion is a vital part of our long-term growth strategy.  We
began to upgrade the bar and billet process at the Harrison Steel Plant in
1992 with the installation of a $47 million continuous caster and an $11
million state-of-the-art inspection line.  With the addition of the new
rolling mill, we have a fully integrated synchronous process enabling us to
provide our customers an even higher level of quality," said Bill J. Bowling,
executive vice president, chief operating officer and president _ Steel.
    Building on the transformation of its Steel Business, which began with the
construction of the Faircrest Steel Plant, the most advanced alloy steel
manufacturing plant in the world, The Timken Company is moving to achieve a
similar cost and quality leadership position in the manufacture of continuous-
cast small- and intermediate-sized steel bars.
    The Harrison Steel Plant produces 1-7/8" to 6" rounds and 3" to 5-1/2"
round-cornered squares.  The new mill's capacity is 700,000 tons per year,
25 percent higher than previous capacity.  Roughly one-half the plant's bar
output is used by The Timken Company's tubing manufacturing operations to
produce seamless mechanical tubing for bearing races and other commercial
applications.  The remaining one-half is primarily alloy bars sold for
critical engineering applications.
    The Timken Company is a leading international manufacturer of highly
engineered bearings and alloy steels.  The company employs about 21,000
associates worldwide and reported 1997 sales of more than $2.6 billion.