Engineering Excellence, Driving the Future

For over three decades, Timken India Limited has exemplified what it means to grow with purpose — blending engineering excellence with technological foresight, and local agility with global strength. From its first manufacturing facility in Jamshedpur in 1992 to the recently commissioned state-of-the-art SRB and CRB plant at Bharuch, the company’s trajectory reflects a rare balance of innovation, sustainability, and resilience.

Under the dynamic leadership of Sanjay Koul, Managing Director, Timken India Ltd., the company has evolved into a trusted partner for India’s most demanding sectors — automotive, railways, steel, mining, energy, and renewables.

Backed by a robust R&D and technology center in Bangalore, Timken India continues to redefine industry benchmarks in bearing and mechanical power transmission solutions. With an unwavering commitment to ‘Make in India’, digital transformation, and green manufacturing, Timken India is not only deepening its domestic presence but also positioning itself as a global hub of excellence.

As it strides toward its next milestone — emerging as a USD 1 billion enterprise — Timken India stands as a model of how engineering innovation, customer-centricity, and sustainable practices can converge to shape the future of industrial motion. Excerpts from an interview with Bearing Review:

 1. Timken India has completed over three decades of operations with remarkable growth. From your perspective, what have been the pivotal milestones in this journey?
Over the last three decades in India, Timken has grown strength to strength and this journey has been shaped by a series of defining milestones that reflect both profitable growth and the resilience of our business.

One of Timken’s strengths has been our ability to adapt to change with agility and turning every challenge into an opportunity to transform. Timken’s success is built on the pillars of innovative engineering, deep focus on quality and our collaborative sales model where we solve our customers’ most challenging problems.

Another key milestone has been our expansion of manufacturing capabilities in India, which has helped us serve our customers better and strengthen our presence in diverse markets. Equally significant has been the way we have embedded core principles such as hard work, commitment, sustainability, and ethical decision-making into the fabric of our organization. These values have guided us through unexpected challenges and ensured that our growth is both robust and future ready.

For me, personally, the biggest milestone has been building a team that embodies a resilient mindset. This has allowed us to face uncertainties with confidence and deliver consistent results. Fostering a culture of innovation where individuals are empowered to take ownership, think differently, and embrace risks has fueled our progress.

Together, these milestones, our adaptability and agility, strengthened manufacturing footprint, culture of innovation, and delivering unwavering values have been central to Timken India’s sustained success over the past thirty years.

2. Under your leadership, how has Timken India strengthened its manufacturing and technology footprint across Jamshedpur, Bharuch, and Bangalore?
When Timken set foot in India in 1989 and established its first manufacturing facility in Jamshedpur in 1992, we were already ahead of the industry in terms of use of technology and streamlined processes in manufacturing. Over the years, we have made strategic investments in both – expanding our manufacturing footprint and improving our manufacturing efficiency with the use of technology.

Over the years, Timken has evolved from a single plant to a market leader with three state-of-the-art manufacturing units, a dedicated R&D center in Bangalore, multiple sales offices, and a robust aftermarket network spanning distributors and retailers nationwide.

The latest in this development is the new SRB and CRB manufacturing facility in Bharuch. The state-of-the-art facility was inaugurated in April this year and has started production recently in the month of July. This facility will reduce our reliance on imports and promote making in India while improving speed to the market.

Timken, today, has a robust manufacturing footprint and supply chain and holds a strong position to support the increasing needs of its customers and the industries it caters to.

3. How does Timken’s collaborative technical selling model contribute to its competitive edge in the Indian bearing and mechanical power transmission market?
Our collaborative technical selling model is a key differentiator in the Indian market because it goes beyond offering products, it focuses on solving customer challenges. By working closely with customers, we co-create tailored solutions that improve efficiency, balance cost with performance, and deliver long-term value. This approach builds strong partnerships where innovation, trust, and customer satisfaction go hand in hand.

It not only helps us explore untapped opportunities but also strengthens our position as a preferred supplier, giving Timken a sustained competitive edge in the engineered bearings and industrial motion space.

4. The integration of ABC Bearings was a strategic move. What impact has this merger had on your market share, capabilities, and customer reach?
Timken acquired Bharuch-based, homegrown ABC Bearings in 2018.This acquisition has significantly strengthened Timken’s position in the market. It expanded our manufacturing base, giving us the scale and flexibility to serve customers more effectively while balancing cost efficiency and quality.

The merger also enhanced our capabilities by adding new product lines and technologies, which allowed us to deliver a wider range of tailored solutions.

Most importantly, it broadened our customer reach and deepened our presence across diverse markets. By combining strengths, we created a stronger, more agile organization; one that is better equipped to drive sustainable growth and reinforce Timken’s role as a preferred supplier to Indian industries.

5. Timken is globally known for its advanced R&D and engineering excellence. How does Timken India localize this global strength to serve domestic and regional industries more effectively?
At Timken India, we align our global engineering excellence with local market needs by focusing on innovation that directly addresses customer challenges. Our facilities and teams in India not only adapt global technologies but also develop solutions tailored to the unique requirements of domestic and regional industries.

The Timken Technology Center in Bangalore provides customers with access to a wealth of engineering expertise and cutting-edge technological advancements.

This center is pivotal in delivering products, services, and technical support that enhance equipment performance, addressing customer needs in design optimization, operational cost reduction, and specialized expertise.

At the forefront of driving innovation, the technology center in Bangalore leads initiatives across customer product and application engineering, manufacturing advancement, information technology, and shared services.

Notably, its contributions have played a significant role in fostering growth in renewable energy sales, underscoring Timken’s commitment to sustainable development and competitiveness. Simultaneously, substantial investments in stress analysis, vibration analysis, rheology, and tribology showcase Timken’s dedication to staying at the forefront of technological advancements. These efforts are geared towards delivering superior solutions to our customers and reinforcing our market position.

6. With sustainability becoming critical in modern manufacturing, how is Timken India embedding energy efficiency and greener practices into its operations and product solutions?
Sustainability is deeply integrated into the way we operate at Timken India. Our focus on innovation ensures that the solutions we deliver to customers not only solve immediate challenges but also support efficiency and long-term environmental goals.

Our strategies are deeply aligned with sustainable growth.We are not only building a business for today but laying the foundation for a wonderful future.

This means investing in technologies that reduce energy consumption, creating products with extended life cycles, and ensuring our operations minimize their environmental impact.
This culture of adaptability and accountability enables us to embed greener practices across our plants and product offerings. The result is a future-ready organization that supports customers in meeting their own sustainability targets while strengthening our long-term growth in a responsible manner.

7. Digitalization and Industry 4.0 are reshaping the industrial landscape. What initiatives is Timken India taking to stay ahead on the digital transformation curve?
Timken was always ahead of the curve in terms of adoption of manufacturing technologies in India. At Timken, we view digitalization as an enabler of efficiency, agility, and innovation. Guided by our culture of adaptability and continuous improvement, we have embedded Industry 4.0 practices across our operations.
By empowering teams to leverage data, automation, and advanced technologies, we are building smarter plants and streamlining processes that drive both cost efficiency and responsiveness.

More importantly, digital tools allow us to collaborate more closely with customers, offering tailored, value-driven solutions. These initiatives keep us future-ready while ensuring we stay ahead on the digital transformation curve.Timken plants manufacture world class products with best-in-class safety systems. Our manufacturing plants in India are certified to ISO 14001, ISO 45001 from environment and health and safety point of view and ISO 50001 from energy management perspective.

Our global TQMS (Timken Quality Management Systems) is the foundation of our strong quality systems and is a framework to consistently produce quality Timken products irrespective of the location where the parts are manufactured.

8. How do you assess the growth potential of the Indian bearing market, and what sectors do you see as key drivers for Timken India going forward?
The growth of the bearings industry is being driven by a convergence of infrastructure expansion, industrial modernization, and mobility transformation. In India, government-led initiatives in railways, smart cities, mining, steel, and renewable energy are unlocking demand for high-performance, durable bearing solutions that can support increased loads and harsher environments.

Simultaneously, the automotive sector especially the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid mobility is fueling the need for compact, lightweight, and energy-efficient bearing systems. OEMs are now looking for technology partners who can co-develop custom solutions that align with next-generation mobility trends. On the industrial front, the push for automation, predictive maintenance, and energy efficiency is redefining expectations.

Customers are no longer seeking just a product they want a solution that enhances uptime, reduces total cost of ownership, and aligns with their digital transformation goals.Additionally, with strong engineering, manufacturing, and R&D presence in India, Timken is well-positioned to meet this demand while driving innovation and sustainable growth in the sector.

9. Timken’s aftermarket services and MILLTEC support are integral to your value proposition. How are you scaling these services to match evolving customer expectations?
Timken is expanding its MillTEC services to meet rising customer expectations by offering comprehensive roll shop management, bearing refurbishment, and predictive maintenance. These services help reduce downtime and extend equipment life, allowing customers to focus on their core operations. To further enhance service quality, Timken is setting up onsite training hubs aimed at improving the skill levels of on-site manpower, ensuring consistent and reliable performance.

The MillTEC model now includes uptime guarantees and performance-based metrics, shifting the focus from routine tasks to measurable outcomes. By leveraging data analytics and real-time monitoring, Timken enables smarter maintenance planning and cost control. Expert engineering support is resolving persistent issues, and customers increasingly prefer this model, where specialists are available 24×7 at their premises—freeing them to concentrate on steel production.

To support this growth, Timken is streamlining its supply chain and adopting lean practices across operations. Combined with strong OEM partnerships and a commitment to continuous improvement, these efforts are creating a more agile and transparent service ecosystem. Timken’s approach ensures long-term value and operational excellence across industrial sectors.

10. Finally, what is your vision for Timken India over the next five years in terms of innovation, customer partnerships, and global competitiveness?
India remains central to our long-term global growth strategy. Over the next three to five years, our roadmap is focused on expanding manufacturing capacity, deepening localization, and innovating for the next generation of industrial challenges.

The recent commissioning of our advanced facility in Bharuch is a cornerstone investment which is backed by ₹700+ crore, which will boost production of Cylindrical and Spherical Roller Bearings. This will help us meet domestic demand efficiently and support Timken’s global supply chain with India as a hub of excellence. We are also investing in digital technologies and automation to future-proof our operations and improve agility. Our efforts extend beyond infrastructure; we’re building talent, enhancing supplier ecosystems, and strengthening our customer engagement platforms.

Looking ahead, I’m incredibly optimistic about the future. We are committed to innovation, quality, and sustainability, and we’ll continue to push the boundaries to meet the evolving needs of our customers. At the heart of everything, we will stay true to our core values integrity, teamwork, and excellence. Together, we will achieve even greater things in the years to come, always striving to exceed our customers’ expectations and accelerating profitable growth for our company.

My vision is to evolve Timken India into a USD 1 billion enterprise, outgrowing the market through relentless focus on innovation, customer success, and sustainable development. India isn’t just a market for us it’s a growth engine, a talent hub, and a platform for global leadership.