The Timken Co. opened a new $60 million small-bar steel rolling mill at its Harrison Steel Plant in Canton, Ohio. The new mill enables the company to produce steel bars down to 1 inch in diameter for use in power-transmission and friction-management applications. The mill, which comprises approximately 76,000 square feet and houses expanded rolling, finishing and inspection capabilities, is expected to create 30 new jobs. Timken expects the high-performance steel produced to meet the needs of customers in the bearing, energy and automotive industries.

Plans for the small-bar steel rolling mill were originally announced in January 2007. Timken collaborated on the design and construction of the facility with Japan’s Daido Steel Co., a producer with experience manufacturing special-quality small-bar steel for customers including Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co.