We continue to be flexible and responsive to customer demands

June 9, 2021 2:17 pm

Timken bearings on the rover that landed on Mars, speaks volume of our R&D capabilities and technological prowess.

Robust R&D and developing cutting-edge technologies keeps us ahead of the curve in the competitive market, says Sanjay Koul, Chairman and Managing Director, Timken India Limited, in an interview with OEM Update.

Leveraging technologies for precision at Timken

Timken has been in the business of precision manufacturing for over a century, and has evolved and graduated to knowledge-based engineering. When we entered the Indian market in 1989, we were already ahead of the curve. We have been using AI and automation in our manufacturing engineering long before they became norms. This has ensured that all our servomechanisms are up to date, our drawings are automated, and all our systems are future proof. This results in world-class product quality first time right and always right, and drastically increases our speed to the market.

Adding innovations to products and solutions

Henry Timken, who founded the company in 1899, also invented the first tapered roller bearing; so, engineering and innovation are ingrained in our DNA. We have several dedicated research and development facilities around the globe dedicated to developing and adapting cutting-edge technologies for our precision manufacturing and using our detailed and accurate knowledge of metallurgy, tribology and mechanical systems to improve the consistency and efficiency of equipment, machinery and vehicles all across the world. The fact that the first rover to land on Mars had Timken bearings on it speaks volumes about our R&D capabilities and technological prowess.

Evaluating demand for engineered products amid pandemic

Demand management is an intricate science, and this has for sure become much more complicated during the pandemic. However, we have stayed close to the customers and end-user markets to stay ahead of the demand curve. Timken is especially known for retaining the highly collaborative technical selling model. The India team works directly with large OEM customers and end-users through a network of authorised distributors to make design and application recommendations to optimise performance and reliability. We use modern ERP systems to predict and deal with the demand fluctuations and it has worked well for us. Timken has been able to serve its customers’ needs by staying flexible and responsive to the markets during these challenging times.

Enhancing manufacturing and engineering efficiency with robotics

We must understand that we have process automation that improves operational efficiency, and then we have robotics which can automate some of the manual processes, especially in high-risk environments. We have been working hard on the process automation side and have effectively implemented them at all our manufacturing facilities. On the other hand, we have been using robotics in our heat treatment processes effectively. And, we have also been working with our vendor partners to use robotics in steel-making and forging processes, which are tough environment processes.

Timken’s latest offerings to the sector

Timken has always been proactive in catering to sunrise industries, and we have done well in the renewable energy sector, especially wind hold the leading position in this segment in all the markets where we operate. We have also developed innovative solutions for the food and beverage industry. Apart from enhancing product features such as bringing power density bearings to the market, our latest offerings include enhanced engineering solutions for the wind energy sector. We have been continuously working on solutions such as debris-resistant bearings which are critical for applications that involve harsh operating environments.

Future plans and projections

We are always investing in and expanding our product portfolio while focusing on growth in our core product, which is bearings. Timken’s excellence is based on the agility of its business and the strength of its diversified portfolio across geographies, product categories, and channels. Over the years, Timken has acquired brands that produce world-class couplings, automatic lubrication solutions etc., which has helped us become a single-source solution provider to the varied needs of our customers. We are well-positioned to navigate the challenges ahead and take advantage of opportunities arising out of rapidly evolving markets.