The Timken Co. said Sept. 26 it has begun preliminary discussions with the United Steelworkers to determine whether the company should move forward with a plan to expand its Faircrest steel plant in Canton, Ohio.
Timken, which makes bearings and steel products, announced Aug. 24 a plan to invest $225 million at the Faircrest plant to accommodate growing demand for its products in emerging markets and oil and gas applications.
At the time, the company said it planned to work with the United Steelworkers on a labor agreement that covers the facility.
Timken officials say they would move forward with the plan "provided that the operating environment is conducive to such a financial commitment," according to a company statement.
The USW Local 1123 contract with Timken expires in September 2013.
Timken also has begun discussions with suppliers and government officials to determine by the end of the year whether to move forward with the expansion.
The company has not yet estimated the number of jobs that could result from the expansion, a Timken spokesperson told IndustryWeek in August.
See also:
Oil and Gas Demand Fuels Timken Expansion Efforts in Ohio
Timken Chief Warns Against Protectionism
Timken Invests $50 Million in Upgrades for Canton Steel Operations
