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Contingencies (Notes) | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] | Note 8 - Contingencies The Company and certain of its subsidiaries have been identified as potentially responsible parties for investigation and remediation under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA"), known as the Superfund, or similar state laws with respect to certain sites. Claims for investigation and remediation have been asserted against numerous other entities, which are believed to be financially solvent and are expected to fulfill their proportionate share of the obligation. On December 28, 2004, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“USEPA”) sent Lovejoy, Inc. ("Lovejoy") a Special Notice Letter that identified Lovejoy as a potentially responsible party, together with at least 14 other companies, at the Ellsworth Industrial Park Site, Downers Grove, DuPage County, Illinois (the “Site”). The Company acquired Lovejoy in 2016. Lovejoy’s Downers Grove property is situated within the Ellsworth Industrial Complex. The USEPA and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (“IEPA”) allege there have been one or more releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, allegedly including, but not limited to, a release or threatened release on or from Lovejoy's property, at the Site. The relief sought by the USEPA and IEPA includes further investigation and potential remediation of the Site and reimbursement of response costs. Lovejoy’s allocated share of past and future costs related to the Site, including for investigation and/or remediation, could be significant. All previously pending property damage and personal injury lawsuits against Lovejoy related to the Site have been settled or dismissed. The Company had total environmental accruals of $5.3 million and $5.5 million for various known environmental matters that are probable and reasonably estimable at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, which includes the Lovejoy matter discussed above. These accruals were recorded based upon the best estimate of costs to be incurred in light of the progress made in determining the magnitude of remediation costs, the timing and extent of remedial actions required by governmental authorities and the amount of the Company’s liability in proportion to other responsible parties. In October 2014, the Brazilian government antitrust agency, Administrative Council for Economic Defense, or CADE, announced that it had opened an investigation of alleged antitrust violations in the bearing industry. The Company’s Brazilian subsidiary, Timken do Brasil Comercial Importadora Ltda. ("Timken do Brasil"), was included in the investigation. In May 2019, the investigation division of CADE issued a report on the alleged antitrust violations and recommended that Timken do Brasil, among others, be found to have violated certain provisions of the Brazil Competition Law. The case has now moved to the tribunal level of CADE. The Company is continuing to advance its interests in this case. Based on management's evaluation of the findings contained in the CADE investigation report, the Company recorded expense in the second quarter of 2019 to establish a liability that represents management’s best estimate of the probable loss. While no assurance can be given as to the ultimate outcome of this case, the Company does not believe that the final resolution will have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or liquidity, however, the effect of any such future outcome may be material to the results of operations of any particular period in which costs in excess of amounts provided, if any, are recognized. The Company is a defendant in a 2017 lawsuit filed in the U.S. by a former employee asserting workplace-related negligence by the Company's medical personnel. The Company’s defense is ongoing and, while the incurrence of a liability is not considered probable at this point, management believes the low end of the range of the reasonably possible outcomes would be immaterial to the Company. In addition, the Company is subject to various other lawsuits, claims and proceedings, which arise in the ordinary course of its business. The Company accrues costs associated with legal and non-income tax matters when they become probable and reasonably estimable. Accruals are established based on the estimated undiscounted cash flows to settle the obligations and are not reduced by any potential recoveries from insurance or other indemnification claims. Management believes that any ultimate liability with respect to these actions, in excess of amounts provided, will not materially affect the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. Product Warranties: In addition to the contingencies above, the Company provides limited warranties on certain of its products. The product warranty liability included in "Other current liabilities" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets was $5.6 million and $7.1 million at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. The Company continues to evaluate claims raised by certain customers with respect to the performance of bearings sold into the wind energy sector. Management believes that the outcome of these claims will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position; however, the effect of any such outcome may be material to the results of operations of any particular period in which costs in excess of amounts provided, if any, are recognized.

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