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UNION — Timken employees had an opportunity to converse with U.S. Sen. Tim Scott as he toured the plant on Monday.
Timken Tyger River Plant Manager Bob Hart introduced Scott to a group of employees in the plant’s conference room before taking Scott on a tour of the plant to meet other employees.
“Sen. Scott is a tremendous supporter of manufacturing, and that is why we support Sen. Scott,” Hart said, congratulating Scott on a resounding re-election.
“My agenda in the Senate lines up well with Timken,” Scott said.
He explained his focus is on education and apprentice programs, as described in his SKILLS Act, which focuses on delivering high-quality, efficient job training services. Scott said the SKILLS Act looks at how to cut the overhead of the U.S. government and direct the country toward being a top manufacturer.
“Can America make things again? Can America produce high quality products?” Scott asked. “My answer is an emphatic ‘Yes!’”
Scott said he believes — if done right — America can produce the best workforce in the world.
Hart told Scott that while the Timken Tyger River Plant was decades old on the outside, it was actually five-six years old on the inside. Hart explained that the company has invested $37 million in the plant in the last 10 years, of which $8 million was invested in the past two years.
“We had to restructure our workforce and let go of about 180 people, but we did it in such a manner that people were able to find jobs in South Carolina because they had the Timken brand name behind them,” Hart said, pointing out that out of those 180 people, there were only six who were actually laid off.
“I think that speaks a lot about what our core values are.”
Hart also pointed out that the Timken Family Foundation has donated over $200 million back into communities in which Timken has plants nationally and internationally, with over $2 million being put back into Union County.
“What you guys have done over the past five years is rare,” Scott said, explaining that he ran a business for 15 years. “Washington, D.C. has no clue how to run a business.”
Scott said through reinvention, Timken has extended its lifeline.
Scott accepted questions from employees, and he was asked about military reduction. Scott used the term BRAC (base realignment and closure), and he said he wanted to “BRAC-proof” South Carolina. Scott said so much of the U.S. Military’s readiness depends on South Carolina bases such as Fort Jackson, Parris Island and Shaw AFB.
Scott said he believes a challenge the nation will face in the next several years is that the military will need more intel and people, as well as a different approach.
“Our response has to be more unique than it has been in the past,” he said.
Following the meeting, Scott toured the facility and spoke with employees working on the shop floor. Scott also talked football and joked with employees.
“We have to have a good time don’t we?” Scott said. “I’m going to Washington in the next three hours; this is my best shot at having a good time.”
| Product Model | Inside Diameter | Outside Diameter | Thickness |
| 239/900K NTN | 900 | 1180 | 206 |
| 239/900 NTN | 900 | 1180 | 206 |