The Timken Company has acquired Interlube Systems Ltd., which makes and markets automated lubrication delivery systems and related components to end market sectors including commercial vehicles, construction, mining and heavy and general industries.
 
With 2012 sales of approximately $13 million and 90 employees, Interlube is based in Plymouth, U.K., has an operation in Dayton, Ohio, and a joint venture in Zhuhai, China. The purchase also includes MSP Distributors Ltd., based in Cheltenham, U.K., and acquired by Interlube in 2007, which designs, installs and repairs lubrication systems.
 
“We’re pleased to have Interlube join the Timken team,” said Michael Connors, vice-president of distribution for Timken, in making the announcement. “The management team brings a wealth of experience and established customer relationships, and their automated lubrication delivery systems certainly complement the Timken portfolio of power transmission products.”

As part of its growth strategy, Timken has been steadily adding to its product portfolio and sees Interlube as highly compatible to its core bearing product lines and recent power transmission acquisitions. Over the past two years, Timken has added a number of new products and services, including roller drive chain, gearbox repair and motor rewind services.

Interlube focuses on critical applications where an automated lubrication system can help extend up-time and reduce maintenance costs for end users, a key strength of Timken as well. Interlube also brings Timken access to new channels that serve key end user markets.

“Their expertise and quality product line, coupled with our global reach and market access, will allow us to grow market share for Interlube products,” Connors added, “as well as expose new market space for existing Timken applications.”
www.interlubesystems.co.uk
www.timken.com

Timken Canada will move in March 2013 to larger premises that will now be the corporate legal entity of Timken Canada.
  
According to Frank Mascia, general manager of Timken Canada, the new facility will consolidate all management, administration, sales, engineering and customer service for Canada at one location. The new location also has the advantages of being closer to the CoLinx warehouse where Timken brand products are inventoried; being located near Pearson International for easier customer access; and including a full training facility.

The new address will be:
Timken Canada LP
100-5955 Airport Rd.
Mississauga, ON
L4V 1R9

Phone: 905-826-9620
Fax: 905-826-0482

Timken has announced that, during the next year, the company will be centralizing its support for Canadian customers, moving its customer service function together with its sales and engineer professionals to form an integrated team based in Toronto, near its Brampton CoLinx shipping facility.

In the same timeframe, the company is consolidating bearing operations in North America, closing its plant in St. Thomas, Ont., and moving that production to plants in Ohio and North and South Carolina.

"We anticipate a smooth transition that will result in even stronger service to the Canadian market," explains Frank Mascia, general manager of Timken Canada, in a press release.

The consolidation of manufacturing is a result of fundamental changes in Timken's mobile industries business.

"The transformation of that business has us focusing in new areas of growth and letting go of business that didn’t bring enough value to customers," Mascia writes. "This is particularly true in markets like heavy truck, where we have shed unprofitable business at a time when there is excess capacity in the marketplace and within Timken. It’s become clear that we now have lower demand for the products made at St. Thomas. Given we have available capacity in other North American plants, closing the St. Thomas plant is a necessary step to improve our service and competitiveness."

The changes in customer service stem from an opportunity to improve the company's structure to better support the Canadian market. "In fact, we are offering all of our customer service professionals the opportunity to relocate from St. Thomas to Toronto," he continues. "I look forward to putting in place not only a strong, integrated team in Toronto by this time next year, but also one full of familiar contacts to you."
www.timken.com

The Timken Company made three new appointments to its Canadian operations in February. Louis Cormier was named regional sales manager for the West and Bruno Mylchreest was named regional sales manager for the East — Frank Mascia will manage the sales team in the Ontario in addition to his role as GM of Canada. Additionally, Andrew Platt was named customer service manager for Canada.

Cromier is responsible for sales in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba; he continues in his previous role as the product specialist for the Timken housed unit product line across Canada. Mylchreest is responsible for sales in Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfound and Labrador.

All three appointees report to Mascia.
www.timken.com

The Timken Company has announced an average increase of 10 percent in calculated load ratings for Timken  tapered roller bearings used in a wide variety of mobile and industrial equipment.  With advanced technology engineered into the bearings, performance assessments warrant this increase in predicted life across 20 product types used in industries such as rail and vehicle systems, mining and aggregate, agriculture and food processing, and energy generation from wind, coal, oil and gas.

Based on extensive lifecycle testing, Timken's higher performance ratings translate into greater value, with longer predicted useful bearing life and heavier load-carrying capacity than previously published. 

"As the tapered roller bearing technology leader, Timken continually enhances this core product line," said Douglas H. Smith, Timken senior vice president of technology and quality.  "Companywide, our engineers and manufacturing teams demonstrate unwavering commitment to build upon our legacy of innovation and continuous improvement. The cumulative impact of improvements in Timken steel-making technology, fundamental design, and precision manufacturing and gauging has measurably increased the durability of Timken bearings."
www.timken.com

The Timken Company has appointed Frank Mascia to the position of general manager of sales in Canada and Evan Boere to the position of business development manager in Canada, both effective Nov. 16, 2011.

In his role, Mascia will be responsible for sales and marketing in Canada for Timken’s Process Industries segment and the off-highway business of its Mobile Industries segment. He also will oversee customer service and business development for these units in Canada.

Boere will be responsible for identifying and planning the expansion of Timken’s business into new markets for the Process Industries segment and the off-highway business of its Mobile Industries segment. 
 
Prior to joining Timken, Mascia served as general manager of Hansen Transmissions Inc. in Toronto where he led sales and engineering. A native of Montreal, he brings a breadth of experience in the power transmission industry, specifically in gear drives and fluid power. Fluent in English, French and Italian, he holds dual citizenship in Canada and the European Union. 
 
Boere has served as regional sales manager in Canada for the past 13 years. He joined Timken in 1982 as an associate sales representative and has held positions of increasing responsibility in the company’s sales organization in Canada. 
www.timken.com

The Timken Company has completed the $92 million acquisition of Drives LLC, a manufacturer of drive chains, roller chains and conveyor augers for the mobile and industrial machinery sectors.

The Timken Company announced it has agreed to acquire privately held Drives LLC for US$92 million in cash. Based in Fulton, Ill., Drives is a leading manufacturer of highly engineered drive-chains, roller-chains and conveyor augers for the agricultural and industrial marketplace. The company posted sales of approximately US$100 million in the last 12 months, with 430 employees in North America.

"The Drives business brings significant expertise in precision-engineered chain and related products, especially among global equipment manufacturers in agricultural and food processing," said Christopher Coughlin, president of Timken's Process Industries segment. "Adding Drives will enhance our overall product portfolio for the industrial process and mobile markets and offers plenty of upside as we extend their line in the marketplace using Timken's global infrastructure."

Timken has been steadily expanding its product offering and capabilities to provide value-added solutions for a diverse range of machinery applications.  This purchase — along with Timken's recent acquisitions of Philadelphia Gear and QM Bearings — further increases the breadth of Timken's mechanical power transmission product offering and moves the company well beyond its original focus on bearings.

Coughlin noted that Drives' engineered products are also vital to mobile and industrial machinery in oil and gas; aggregate and mining; primary metals; forest products; and other heavy industries. Also attractive to Timken is the firm's strength in food and beverage and the packaged goods sectors, which require high-end, specialty products such as stainless-steel and corrosion-resistant roller chains. 

"Because this adjacent technology complements our existing portfolio, it should allow us to offer a more complete market solution to deliver greater value to our customers and shareholders," Coughlin said.

Timken expects to complete the transaction within approximately 30 days, pending certain government and regulatory approvals. The acquisition should be accretive to Timken earnings in its first full year.
www.timken.com

CANTON, OH - The Timken Company said its StatusCheck wireless monitoring system is helping to keep critical equipment running at one of the U.S.'s most environmentally progressive paper mill operators.