Timken Plans More Sourcing From India

Timken Plans More Sourcing From India The Timken Company will dramatically increase its worldwide use of bearing parts and components sourced from India. In an interview with India's Financial Express, David White, Timken India's marketing director, confirmed what many had already believed -- that Indian manufacturers are successfully establishing themselves as sources for precision bearing parts and components. Like many international manufacturers, Timken has been working with local market suppliers to help them increase their quality, productivity and cost-effectiveness. All of which, of course, are reflected in the output of that local Timken plant. Timken India, for example, has close relationships with a core group of five component suppliers. Mr. White indicated that by 2010, Timken will more than double its purchasing of Indian components used in other bearing plants worldwide. But bearings and parts and components are not the only Indian exports. Currently, Timken directly employs more than 1,000 people at two facilities in India; Bangalore and Jamshedpur. A third plant is now under construction in a business park outside Chennai. It is expected to come online by mid-2008, ramping up to approximately $50 million in sales by 2010. A planned second phase will double that to at least $100 million by 2012.