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The eBearing News
January 11, 2006
Timken Expanding Altavista
Hub Assembly Plant
copyright © 2005 eBearing Inc.
The Timken Company (USA; NYSE:TKR)
announced it will be expanding its hub assembly plant in Altavista, Virginia.
The investment plan, USD $10.3 million, is targeted to boost production of aftermarket wheel bearing
hub assemblies for light-duty trucks and SUVs.
Jack Cameron, Timken's GM for North and South American automotive aftermarket, said:
"The Altavista facility has been a strong performer for Timken, and we are adding capacity to
capitalize on a significant opportunity for profitable growth in the automotive aftermarket with this expansion."
Opened in 1991, Altavista now covers approximately 140,000 square feet and employs approximately 310 people,
slightly off its recent peak. The expansion will result in another 50 jobs added to the roster.
Altavista has more than doubled in size and been the beneficiary of regular investments since it
opened as a small facility with only 21 employees. It was expanded in 1995, 1998, and 2003.
The most recent expansion, in December 2003, added additional capacity to produce heavy-duty
wheel hub bearing units for Ford F250, F350 and F450 trucks.
Timken said approximately $460,000 of state and local incentives are part of the 2006 investment
package. Governor Mark Warner's office confirmed the package included a $150,000 direct grant from the
Governor's Opportunity Fund, and $125,000 from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community
Revitalization Commission.
Governor Warner said: "Timken’s Virginia facility in Altavista is considered a star performer for
the company. The plant has the in-house workforce expertise needed, and my administration and local
officials worked together to make an expansion to the current facility possible. This project will
create 50 new jobs for the region, as well as further diversify Timken’s customer base and create
opportunity for continued growth."
Altavista Plant Manager, John Plazak, said:
"Access to a strong, well-educated workforce and excellent infrastructure in a pro-growth business
environment has been integral to our success in Virginia. We look forward to continuing our
relationship with Commonwealth of Virginia, Campbell County and the Town of Altavista as we build on
our strong record at this facility."
The Altavista expansion program comes as SKF is winding down and closing its wheel hub assembly
manufacturing plant in Aiken, South Carolina by the end of this year. Covering 250,000 square feet,
the $117 million plant opened in 1997. Closing Aiken, SKF cited the high costs of producing hub
assemblies in the United States, as well as pricing pressures in the U.S. auto industry.
article: SKF closing Aiken hub assembly plant
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- by Bruce A. Carr
from individual research,
tips and commercial sources.
Bruce Carr edited this content.
Copyrighted material; unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
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eBearing.com ... for everything that moves™
Entire contents Copyright © 1999-2011, eBearing Inc. All rights reserved.
eBearing.com and "... for everything that moves" are registered trademarks of eBearing Inc.
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