CANTON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 28, 2007--The Timken Company's (NYSE:TKR) steel technology helped Superbolt, Inc. provide equipment to the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and its large particle physics laboratory located near Geneva, Switzerland. Timken® quality alloy steel was used in CERN's flagship project, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which is located underground along the Franco-Swiss border. Experts have said the LHC, a particle accelerator, will be the world's largest and most complex scientific instrument when it is scheduled to be switched on in May 2008.
Superbolt, a Pittsburgh-based manufacturer of patented multi-jackbolt stud/bolt tensioning devices, was selected to provide 1,400 Torquebolts®, Supernuts® and pins. Those components were used in the assembly of 30-foot diameter magnet endcap disks inside the underground tunnel that holds the collider. To meet the large load and small space requirements for the collider, Superbolt required steel with a particularly high hardness rating that also could be machinable.
Engineers and metallurgists at Timken reviewed the requirements and proposed a special high-strength, quenched and tempered alloy steel round bar. This 4.75-inch round bar met the strength criteria yet allowed for easy machining into specially designed Superbolt style bolts, nuts and related pins.
"We've relied on Timken for more than 20 years for a variety of applications," said Robert Steinbock, president of Superbolt. "When bidding the business for CERN, we had to have a product on which we could depend for this unique application and a supplier to meet our timetable. We naturally turned to Timken, and we are pleased with the results."
To complete its commitment to the LHC project, Superbolt ordered 120,000 pounds of Timken steel to make 1,400 bolt style tensioners. The Torquebolts® were pre-stressed and then shipped to CERN for installation. Superbolt was recognized as a top supplier by CERN during its annual awards program.
"Our ability to provide differentiated solutions for rugged and demanding applications like this underground laboratory allows us to deliver tangible value that helps improve our customers' performance," said Salvatore J. Miraglia, Jr., president of Timken's steel business. "We are a company that understands the science of metallurgy and the composition of metals. To have a role in enabling some of the world's best physicists to better understand the composition of the universe is deeply gratifying."
About Superbolt, Inc.
Superbolt®, Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based manufacturer of patented multi-jackbolt tensioners. This patented design allows tightening of any diameter stud/bolt with hand held air/torque tools. Its state-of-the-art facilities house more than 30 high-tech CNC machines to produce all sizes of high quality stud/bolt tensioners.
About CERN
CERN is the European Organization for Nuclear Research, the world's largest particle physics center located on the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva, Switzerland. CERN is a laboratory where scientists unite to study the building blocks of matter and the forces that hold them together. Founded in 1954, the laboratory was one of Europe's first joint ventures and now includes 20 member states. For more information, visit http://www.cern.ch.
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, enabling our customers to perform faster and more efficiently. With sales of $5.0 billion in 2006, operations in 26 countries and approximately 25,000 employees, Timken is Where You Turn™ for better performance.
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