For the first time in the history of the company, AISIN AW Co. Ltd. has used an overseas supplier, The Timken Company, in the launch of a new transmission. And, in another startling first, AISIN has presented its 2006 Technical Award to Timken — marking the first time the technical award has been presented to a firm not headquartered in Japan. Timken received the award from AISIN for support in developing the six-speed B-800 transmission. The rear-wheel drive B-800 is installed in the 2007 Toyota Tundra pickup made in the United States and Land Cruisers produced in Japan. As part of the joint development process, Timken engineers developed a special double-row drawn-cup bearing to help increase the durability of the transmission while retaining its performance characteristics. "This award is a resounding example of how Timken is focused on developing differentiated products for our customers," says John J. Law, director of sales for Timken. "On this project, Timken used its engineering expertise to help AISIN achieve the exacting technical standards required for this new transmission." In response to AISIN's challenge, Timken engineers from the company's technical centers in Japan and Greenville, S.C., worked to develop, produce and launch prototypes of the proposed bearing design. The design was ultimately chosen by AISIN after a collaborative effort between Timken engineering and production teammates in Japan and the United States demonstrated its effectiveness. In addition to this special technical award, Timken received four quality awards from AISIN's production facility in North Carolina. The awards included the Superior Launch award for the B-800 Tundra transmission. The Timken Company provides other products for Toyota vehicles, including tapered roller bearings for axle and manual transmission applications manufactured in Japan and Europe, respectively, as well as drawn cup bearings and thrust bearings for automatic transmissions manufactured in the United States. For more information on Timken, visit the company's Web site. | 