CANTON, Ohio, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Timken Company and the steelworkers union have reached a new, four-year labor agreement.

Members of the steelworkers union voted today to ratify the new contract, which covers approximately 2,700 people at the company's bearing plants in Canton and steel plants in Canton and Wooster, Ohio. Timken employs more than 4,500 in Stark County, Ohio.

"This is a success for our associates and the community," said Don Walker, senior vice president - human resources and organizational advancement. "We are pleased to have successfully concluded this matter with the union and look forward to intensifying our focus on delivering the quality and value our customers demand."

The new contract goes into effect when the current contract expires on September 26, 2005.

The Timken Company, (NYSE: TKR, www.timken.com) keeps the world turning, with innovative ways to make customers' products run smoother, faster and more efficiently. Timken's highly engineered bearings, alloy steels and related products and services turn up everywhere. With operations in 27 countries, sales of $4.5 billion in 2004 and 26,000 employees, Timken is Where You Turn™ for better performance.

Contact: Media, Denise Bowler, Manager - Associate and Financial Communications, (330) 471-3485, or Facsimile, (330) 471-7032, ordenise.bowler@timken.com, or Investor, Steve Tschiegg, Manager - Investor Relations, (330) 471-7446, or Facsimile, (330) 471-2797, orsteve.tschiegg@timken.com

SOURCE The Timken Company