Timken Unveils UltraWind P1 Seal For Wind Turbine Applications

CANTON, Ohio, May 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR) continues to expand its comprehensive line of wind-energy products and solutions with the introduction of the Timken® UltraWind P1 Seal, a breakthrough wind-turbine bearing seal with a polyurethane design that provides increased resistance to abrasion for longer wind-turbine service life and more robust performance than most other commonly used sealing materials. Timken is introducing the new seal this week at the American Wind Energy Association's Windpower 2011 Conference and Exposition in Anaheim, Calif.

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"Seals play an integral role in maximizing wind-turbine uptime and productivity because of their ability to prevent lubrication leakage and bearing contamination," said Hans Landin, director of Process Industries original equipment and wind energy at Timken. "However, over time the cumulative impact of abrasive forces caused by varying loads and speeds, as well as extreme temperature fluctuations, rain, snow, debris and lubrication challenges, can dramatically reduce seal performance in wind-turbines. The new UltraWind P1 Seal is designed to address this problem by incorporating the latest polyurethane technology."

In addition to its durable polyurethane base, the Timken UltraWind P1 Seal contains a variety of other features, including:

• A flexible sealing lip that is designed to handle any misalignment or run-out in the application of the bearing. The lip's special profile also helps minimize heat generation and cone wear while helping to accommodate bearing deflections;
• A corrosion-resistant, stainless steel garter spring that helps prevent rust.
• A machined design for a broader, more diverse range of applications, plus ease of installation via stress minimization. This design also allows for multiple positions at the cone lip OD contact; and
• A cross-sectional size of 25 mm x 32 mm so the UltraWind P1 Seal designed to easily retrofit standard elastomer seals.

"Wind-turbine owners and operators require the latest, most advanced technologies to help achieve optimal uptime, performance and return on investment, which is why they turn to Timken for seals and other highly engineered wind-energy products," said Landin. "Timken's new UltraWind P1 Seal will prove to be an important tool in the reliability arsenal of wind-turbine owners and operators."

For a look at the new UltraWind P1 Seal, as well as Timken's full suite of wind- energy aftermarket products and services, stop by Timken's booth (number 4435) during this week's American Wind Energy Association's Windpower 2011 Conference and Exposition.

About The Timken Company

The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR; www.timken.com) keeps the world turning with innovative friction management and power transmission products and services that are critical to help hard-working machinery perform efficiently and reliably. With sales of $4.1 billion in 2010, and operations in 29 countries with approximately 20,000 people, Timken is Where You Turn® for better performance.

Contacts - Media: Lorrie Paul Crum, Ofc: 330.471.3514; Mob: 330.224.5021. lorrie.crum@timken.com; Investors: Steve Tschiegg, Ofc: 330.471.7446. steve.tschiegg@timken.com, The Timken Company.

SOURCE The Timken Company