Timken signs contract with UWC to manufacture bearings in Russia

Timken has entered into an agreement with the United Wagon Company (UWC) to establish a joint venture (JV) to manufacture AP-2 ™ Timken® rail bearings in Russia. The JV plans to improve the safety, reliability and efficiency of the local rail industry by equipping freight cars with premium Timken bearings.

“Leveraging Timken's expertise provides a global leadership in high performance load-bearing structure and is critical to our strategy to deliver modern, high-quality freight cars to our customers in Russia and the CIS,” said Roman Savushkin, CEO of UWC in Moscow.

As part of the agreement, Timken and UWC will establish a dedicated production facility, which is expected to begin construction within the next few months. Production is expected to begin in the second half of 2015.
The JV expands the relationship between the two companies, strengthening the strategic partnership agreement reached in 2013, which included technical and project support and an initial inventory of Timken AP-2 bearings for UWC.



“In Russia and the CIS, the rail markets represent an incredible growth opportunity for Timken as the region rapidly modernizes its arsenal to support the broader economy,” said Brian Ruel, Timken vice president.

The agreement provides both companies with a strategic opportunity to capitalize on the use of cylindrical roller bearings on freight railroad axles, as Timken has focused primarily on the rail industry. Timken with UWC has set a new standard for performance in Russia and the CIS by specializing in providing engineering solutions for challenging conditions.