Timken Launches New ADAPT Bearings for Metal Industry Caster Applications

Innovative design eases installation to reduce maintenance downtime

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May 02, 2011, 10:05 ET

CANTON, Ohio, May 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR) has introduced a revolutionary new line of easy-to-install, high-capacity bearings for the metal industry's most demanding continuous caster applications. Timken's new ADAPT bearings feature a unique design that provide optimal ease of installation, reliability and performance. For metal-industry manufacturers, this translates into reduced downtime associated with maintenance intervals.

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The ADAPT bearing is used in the float position in strand roll support segments. "The introduction of the ADAPT line underscores Timken's long-standing commitment to the metals market," said Mike Connors – vice president, Distribution, Timken. "We developed the ADAPT bearing in response to our customers' requests for a caster application bearing that is easy to install, offers extended bearing life and improves performance. While caster applications are demanding on equipment components such as bearings, the innovative design of ADAPT provides durability and flexibility to keep casters operating at optimal levels."

The company is exhibiting the new ADAPT bearing line at this week's Association for Iron & Steel Technology's AISTech 2011 event in Indianapolis, Ind.

Each Timken® ADAPT™ bearing consists of a cylindrical inner ring, an outer ring with a proprietary outer race profile and a roller/retainer assembly that features specially profiled rollers with a snap-in retainer. The inner ring has a cylindrical raceway, allowing the shaft to move (float) left or right relative to the outer ring.

Timken designed the ADAPT bearing's outer ring and rollers with a proprietary profile that:

Compensates for misalignment related to shaft bending up to 0.5 degrees;
Creates a self-aligning effect with the rollers, which minimizes skewing while maintaining constant bearing clearance; and
Optimizes contact stress distribution for extended bearing life.

The ADAPT bearing's one-piece nitride steel retainer snaps into place to hold the rollers in position during mounting and dismounting, while the inner and outer rings each can be fitted separately for easier handling and improved installation flexibility. The bearing's component design simplifies inspection and removal while also allowing operators to independently change parts as needed during maintenance, saving time and costs.

"This truly is a game-changing product," said Keith Johnson, marketing manager for Timken's Process Industries business unit. "Thanks to a unique, high-performance design that brings together the benefits of several bearing types, the ADAPT line is well-positioned to provide the durability and flexibility that continuous casters require to operate at optimal levels."

About The Timken Company

The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR; www.timken.com) keeps the world turning with innovative friction management and power transmission products and services that are critical to help hard-working machinery perform more efficiently and reliably. With sales of $4.1 billion in 2010 and operations in 28 countries with approximately 20,000 people, Timken is Where You Turn® for better performance.

Related Links

Timken ADAPT Media Kit

Contacts - Media: Lorrie Paul Crum, Ofc: +1-330-471-3514; Mob: +1-330-224-5021. [email protected]; Investors: Steve Tschiegg, Ofc: +1-330-471-7446, [email protected], The Timken Company.

SOURCE The Timken Company