The Timken Company applied its research to secure additional contracts with Siemens VAI Metals Technologies for the supply of bearings to two new aluminum-rolling mills under construction in China. The two new contracts resulted in orders for Timken large-bore cylindrical roller bearings.

Timken secured the new business due to its previously conducted thermal analysis of a lubrication system at an aluminum mill that Siemens VAI built in Shanghai Shenhuo. Using the techniques developed by that research, Timken designed bearings for Siemens’ new Henan and South West Aluminum mills, enabling the customer to install a recirculating oil system than enhanced thermal stability for the four-row cylindrical bearings.