People typically recognize the Timken name more for bearings than for steels. That is not surprising, since Timken has been making bearings for over a century. And people who know the Timken name know that Timken bearings have a reputation as being among the best in the world. Much of that reputation has been earned as a result of the Timken® steel used to make our bearings.
Today, other bearing makers can use the same high quality Timken steel in their bearings. For decades, we’ve offered bearing manufacturers a variety of steel grades designed specifically for the unique, and very demanding, requirements of bearing applications.
You can turn to Timken for steel that will provide long, dependable life in your bearings.
Bearing Races
There are many demanding steel applications, but none is tougher than bearings. Cleanness requirements for bearing materials are among the most stringent, and only a few manufacturers are able to achieve these extremely tight specifications.
Timken offers steel products appropriate for every bearing manufacturing process, including forged bar products for smaller bearing races to be used mainly in high volume automotive applications, seamless tubes for intermediate-size high-volume industrial applications, and rolled bar products for large, low-volume industrial applications.
Whatever your need, whatever your process, Timken has the right steel.
Rolling Elements
Manufacturing all bearing components requires steel produced to very stringent specifications, but the requirements for the roller material are particularly high. As the smallest components in a typical bearing, the rolling elements –balls, needles or rollers – are subjected to greater stress, wear and forces than the larger races.
The Timken® steel bar products typically used for rolling element production provide the cleanness and the quality to ensure long life for these critical bearing components.
Hubs
Among automotive components, wheel hubs have an especially difficult job. They need the integrity to support the weight of the vehicle, and handle sometimes severe shock and cornering loads. But at the hub race, they need the appropriate material traits to provide a durable, precision rolling surface.
Hub materials are an area of special expertise for Timken associates. As a hub maker, Timken understands the material requirements for this demanding application. Timken's bearing grade steel for hubs ensures long, reliable service. Timken offers the right grades for all heat treat processes, whether you use induction hardening, case carburizing or through-hardening to produce your hubs.