September 22, 2003

By: Mark Harris
Website: http://www.bearing-n-bearings.com

Timken Bearing to consolidate three regional service centers into new CoLinx Facility in Crossville, Tennessee

The Timken Company announced today that it intends to sell assets from three of its U.S.-based regional service centers to one of its joint ventures, CoLinx, LLC. The closings and subsequent physical transfer of assets from Timken's Chicago, Dallas and Columbus, Ohio, facilities to CoLinx's Crossville, Tennessee, distribution center is expected to be complete by November 1, 2003. The current service levels and customer service activities will continue uninterrupted during the phased implementation.

CoLinx, which is part of a joint venture involving Timken, INA US Corporation, Rockwell Automation and SKF USA, Inc. provides Web-based services and integrated logistics for premium-brand industrial manufacturers. In addition to the Crossville location, located 70 miles west of Knoxville, CoLinx has been shipping Timken(R) product from its Sparks, Nevada and Toronto, Ontario facilities, since early last year. Timken expects to realize operational efficiencies through pooled shipping lanes, optimized shipping freight and warehouse logistics, reduced inter-plant shipments and a more robust, consolidated inventory.

"We have been very pleased with both the service provided by CoLinx and how our relationship has developed with its team of logistics professionals. They have a proven track record in providing outstanding service to Timken and a number of other premium industrial brands," said Kari Groh, general manager -- global logistics and customer service for Timken's industrial distribution management business. "We are confident that this move -- much like last year's moves of Reno and Toronto -- will occur in a fashion that's seamless to our customer base."

The Timken-owned distribution centers in Atlanta, Georgia, Bucyrus, Ohio, Spartanburg, South Carolina and all service centers that currently ship Timken(R), Torrington(R), Kilian(R) and Fafnir(R) product will continue to operate business as usual.

"We are delighted to expand the scope of our relationship with Timken," said Don Louis, chief executive officer of CoLinx. "Our new state-of-the-art 670,000-square foot Crossville facility is manned by a team of dedicated, professional and proven associates who will ensure that customers will continue to receive the service they expect from The Timken Company."

The Timken Company [TKR] ( www.timken.com ) is a leading international manufacturer of highly engineered bearings, alloy and specialty steels and components, and a provider of related products and services. Following its February 2003 acquisition of The Torrington Company, Timken employs 28,000 people worldwide in operations in 29 countries. In 2002, the combined companies had sales of approximately $3.8 billion.

Certain statements in this news release (including statements regarding the Company's forecasts, beliefs and expectations) that are not historical in nature are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company cautions that actual results may differ materially from those projected or implied in forward- looking statements due to a variety of important factors. These factors are described in greater detail in the Company's Prospectus Supplement dated February 11, 2003 relating to the offering of the Company's common stock, in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, in the Company's 2002 Annual Report, page 47, and in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2003. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

About The Author:

Mark Harris is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.bearing-n-bearings.com.  Keep things running smoothly with ball bearings, roller bearings, ball thrust bearings and tapered bearings.