The Timken Company has awarded a 2011 Foundation of Quality Excellence Award to its bearing plant in Chennai, India, during the company's Asian quality conference in May.

"Quality is an integral part of our reputation and our brand. Our customers around the world rely on the high performance of our products and services in countless critical applications," said Russell F Folger, vice president of quality advancement for Timken. "Our Chennai plant ranks among our 'best of the best' because of the team's dedication to consistently produce and deliver on our brand promise."

The awards are presented each year in recognition of top quality performance levels among more than 50 Timken plants around the world, and the Chennai plant is one of two Asian plants recognised. The other facility lauded for outstanding quality is in Yantai, China. Awards were presented to plants in North America and Europe in April.

The Chennai plant represents a significant expansion of the company's manufacturing presence in India. The facility produces single- and double-row case-carburised tapered roller bearings, including cups, cones and assemblies, of 8" and above outside diameter.

The Timken Company keeps the world turning with innovative friction management and mechanical power transmission products and services that help machinery perform more efficiently and reliably. With sales of $5.2 billion in 2011 and approximately 21,000 people operating from locations in 30 countries, Timken is Where You Turn? for better performance.