Timken eyes food, beverage industry with latest acquisition

Here’s food for thought: Bearings maker Timken Co. is diversifying into eating and drinking – in a roundabout way.
The Jackson Township manufacturer has bought EDT Corp., a maker of polymer housed units and stainless steel ball bearings used by the food and beverage industry. EDT is based in Vancouver, Washington, with annual revenue of less than $10 million.
Terms were not disclosed.
“We market a broad range of bearing housed units and are pleased to add the EDT line to our portfolio,” Chris Coughlin, group president for Timken, said in a statement. “We see this acquisition as an excellent strategic fit, allowing Timken to simultaneously build on the inherent strengths of the EDT team and leverage our expanded marketplace offering, thereby increasing our presence in the food and beverage segment.”
EDT’s customer base is primarily through North American distributors with whom Timken has long-standing relationships, Timken said in a release.
Besides bearings, Timken makes gear drives, belts, chain, couplings and related products, and powertrain rebuild and repair services.