CANTON, Ohio: October 28, 2010 — The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR) today reported sales of $1.1 billion in the third quarter of 2010, an increase of 39 percent over the same period a year ago. The sales increase reflects stronger global demand across most of the company’s end markets and higher material surcharges.

The company generated income from continuing operations, net of non-controlling interest, in the third quarter of $71.4 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, compared with last year's third-quarter loss of $19.4 million, or $0.20 per share. Excluding special items, the company posted $78.1 million in income from continuing operations, net of non-controlling interest, or $0.80 per diluted share, compared with income of $7.4 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, a year ago.

The increase in third-quarter earnings reflects the combined effects of stronger demand, greater manufacturing efficiencies, surcharges and pricing, partially offset by higher material and selling and administrative costs.

"The company's strong profitability and cash flow demonstrate a structural improvement in our level of performance," said James W. Griffith, Timken president and chief executive officer. "We are growing the company in global markets where we create value, and are well positioned to accelerate that growth."

Special items for continuing operations in the third quarter of 2010 totaled $6.7 million of expense, net of tax, primarily associated with manufacturing rationalization activities. Last year, special items in the third quarter totaled $26.8 million, primarily related to severance expense.

As of Sept. 30, 2010, total debt was $493 million, or 21.6 percent of capital. The company had cash of $900 million, or $407 million in excess of total debt, compared with a net cash position of $243 million as of Dec. 31, 2009. The increase in net cash reflects strong cash flow from earnings, partially offset by pension contributions and working-capital requirements.

Among recent developments, the company:

Completed its acquisition of QM Bearings and Power Transmission, broadening Timken’s industrial offering with spherical roller-bearing steel-housed units and couplings for especially demanding processes;
Announced a $50-million product-finishing investment in its Ohio steel operations, expected to increase efficiency when completed in 2013; and
Opened a new office in Jakarta, Indonesia, to serve growing demand from the metals, mining, cement, rail, energy and power industries.

Nine Months’ Results

For the first nine months of 2010, sales were $3 billion, an increase of 26 percent from the same period in 2009. Income from the company’s continuing operations, net of non-controlling interest, for the first nine months of 2010 was $181.1 million, or $1.86 per diluted share, compared with a loss of $53.9 million, or $0.55 per share, a year ago. Special items, net of tax, in the first nine months of 2010 totaled $34.4 million of expense compared with $75.2 million of expense in the prior-year period. Special items in 2010 primarily related to a one-time non-cash charge of $21.6 million to record the deferred tax impact of U.S. health care legislation enacted in the first quarter and expense for severance and manufacturing rationalization.

Excluding special items, income from the company’s continuing operations, net of non-controlling interest, was $215.5 million, or $2.22 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2010, versus income of $21.3 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, in the prior-year period. During the first nine months of 2010, the company benefited from increased demand, improved manufacturing performance and cost-reduction initiatives, partially offset by higher selling and administrative costs.

Bearings and Power Transmission Group Results

The Bearings and Power Transmission Group had third-quarter sales of $719.6 million, up 17 percent from $614.8 million for the same period last year. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for the third quarter were $101.6 million, up from $48.8 million in the third quarter of 2009.

For the first nine months of 2010, Bearings and Power Transmission Group sales were $2.1 billion, up 12 percent from the same period a year ago. For the first nine months of 2010, EBIT was $288.3 million, compared with EBIT of $149.9 million in the first nine months of 2009.

Mobile Industries Segment Results

In the third quarter, Mobile Industries’ sales were $404.1 million, up 23 percent from last year’s third-quarter sales of $327.6 million. Stronger demand drove the sales increase, led by the off-highway, light-vehicle and heavy-truck sectors.

EBIT for the segment was $60.6 million for the third quarter, up from $13.7 million in the same period a year ago. Higher volume, better manufacturing utilization and pricing initiatives drove the increase, partially offset by higher material and selling and administrative costs.

For the first nine months of 2010, Mobile Industries’ sales of $1.2 billion were up 27 percent from the same period a year ago. EBIT for the first nine months of 2010 was $171.5 million, compared with last year's EBIT loss of $0.6 million.

Process Industries Segment Results

Process Industries' third-quarter sales were $234.5 million, up 25 percent from $187 million for the same period a year ago. Stronger distribution sales, especially in North America and Asia, were primary drivers of the increase.

Process Industries' third-quarter EBIT was $37.2 million, up from $16 million a year ago. Higher volume and better manufacturing utilization drove the increase, partially offset by higher material and selling and administrative costs.

For the first nine months of 2010, Process Industries' sales were $652.7 million, up 5 percent from the same period a year ago. EBIT for the first nine months of 2010 was $93 million, compared with EBIT of $94.6 million in the first nine months of 2009.

Aerospace and Defense Segment Results

Aerospace and Defense had third-quarter sales of $81million, down 19 percent from $100.2 million for the same period last year. The decline reflects reduced demand from commercial and general aviation sectors with some weakness in the defense market. Implementation of new engineering systems and business processes also temporarily dampened sales in the quarter.

Third-quarter EBIT was $3.8 million, down from $19.1 million a year ago. The decline primarily reflects lower sales and higher manufacturing costs.

For the first nine months of 2010, Aerospace and Defense sales were $255.8 million, down 20 percent from the same period a year ago. EBIT for the first nine months of 2010 was $23.8 million, compared with EBIT of $55.9 million in the first nine months of 2009.

Steel Group Results

Sales for the Steel Group, including inter-group sales, were $371.3 million in the third quarter, an increase of 135 percent from $157.9 million for the same period last year. The results reflect strong demand across all markets. Raw-material surcharges increased approximately $80 million from the third quarter last year.

Third-quarter EBIT was $41.3 million, compared with an EBIT loss of $20.2 million for the same period a year ago. EBIT benefited from improved volume and mix, manufacturing utilization and surcharges, partially offset by higher material costs.

For the first nine months of 2010, Steel Group sales were $979.7 million, up 81 percent from the first nine months of last year. EBIT for the first nine months of 2010 was $104.2 million, compared with an EBIT loss of $60.4 million for the same period a year ago.

Outlook

For the full-year 2010, Timken anticipates an increase in sales of approximately 25 to 30 percent over 2009, driven primarily by stronger demand in the Steel and Mobile Industries segments. For its business segments, Timken expects:

Steel Group sales to increase 80 to 90 percent, due to improved demand across all market sectors as well as surcharges;

Mobile Industries segment sales to be up approximately 20 to 25 percent, driven by recovery in the light-vehicle, off-highway and heavy-truck sectors;

Process Industries segment sales to be up approximately 5 to 10 percent, reflecting growth initiatives in energy and Asia as well as strengthening in industrial distribution demand; and Aerospace and Defense segment sales to decline 15 to 20 percent, with continued weakness in commercial and general aviation, as well as some softening in defense.

The company is raising its 2010 full-year earnings estimate, excluding special items, to a range of $2.80 to $2.90 per diluted share, compared with its prior estimate of $2.40 to $2.60 per diluted share. The company expects to generate cash from operating activities of approximately $400 million and free cash flow (after capital expenditures and dividends) of approximately $250 million for the full year 2010.

Conference Call Information

The company will host a conference call for investors and analysts today to discuss financial results.

Conference Call: Thursday, October 28, 2010
11:00 a.m. Eastern Time

Live Dial-In: 800-344-0593 or 706-634-0975
(Call in 10 minutes prior to be included.)
Conference ID: 10159225

Replay Dial-In through November 5, 2010:
800-642-1687 or 706-645-9291

Live Webcast: www.timken.com/investors

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