Timken and XEMC Announce Chinese Wind Venture

The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR) yesterday announced an agreement with Chinese heavy equipment manufacturer Xiangtan Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (XEMC) to establish a joint venture in China to manufacture ultra-large-bore bearings for main rotor shafts of multi-megawatt wind turbines for the Chinese wind energy market.

The joint venture is expected to contribute to China’s goal of generating 30 million kilowatts of power from wind energy systems by 2020, providing a renewable energy source for China’s rapidly expanding economy.

The joint venture will build a new $38 million facility in Xiangtan, located in China’s Hunan province, to collaborate on the manufacture of main-shaft bearings for wind turbines. Construction of the new facility is scheduled to begin in 2008.

The agreement was unveiled yesterday in Beijing at a ceremony attended by China’s Ministry of Commerce Vice-Minister, Jiang Zeng Wei, and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez, who is visiting China to encourage bilateral trade and investment that will strengthen the U.S. and Chinese economies.

"Timken’s partnership in China will provide $100 million in exports, while also helping China expand alternative energy, wind power, which helps the planet," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez.

Timken will have an ownership stake of 80% in the joint venture.

“Timken has continued to invest heavily in China since entering this country in 1992, and the joint venture with XEMC is the latest example of our commitment to meet the needs of Chinese customers as they participate in one of the most important economic expansions the world has ever witnessed,” said Roger Lindsay, Timken’s senior vice president for Asia. “We believe our collaboration with XEMC will contribute to Chinese economic growth while also advancing the use of sustainable energy to the benefit of us all.”

In addition to Timken’s participation in the wind energy industry, the company has developed a wide range of products that contribute to sustainability by improving the operating efficiency and power density of diverse types of machinery.

About The Timken Company

The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR) manufactures innovative friction management and power transmission products and services. Timkin reports sales of $5.0 billion in 2006, operations in 26 countries and approximately 25,000 employees.