The Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE) — the technical society serving individuals, companies and organizations that comprise the tribology and lubrication engineering business sector based in Park Ridge, Illinois, U.S.A., announced that Ryan Evans, Ph.D., director of research and development for The Timken Company, assumed the role of 2022-2023 president for a one-year term beginning May 17, 2022.  

In his new role, Evans will serve as the principal executive officer of the society and as chairman of its board of directors. During his one-year term, he will implement a strategic plan that emphasizes technical innovation, education and global advocacy in the areas of tribology and lubrication, promoting the positive impact tribology can make across a wide spectrum of applications.  

“Ryan’s deep knowledge of the machine tribology and lubrication industry and his numerous contributions to STLE make him an ideal choice for leading our technical society,” said Edward P. Salek, CAE, STLE executive director. “His extensive field experience and accomplishments will equip our community with the tools they need to navigate the next normal.” 

Evans joined the STLE Board of Directors in 2015 and became a member of STLE’s Executive Committee in 2019, serving one-year terms as treasurer, secretary and vice president. Joining him on the STLE executive committee for the 2022-2023 term are Vice President Hong Liang, Ph.D. (Texas A&M University), Secretary Jack McKenna (Sea-Land Chemical Company), Treasurer Kevin Delaney (Vanderbilt Chemicals, LLC), Immediate Past President Ken Hope, Ph.D. (Chevron Phillips Chemical Company) and STLE Executive Director Edward P. Salek.  

“STLE is leading the charge for recovery, and my goal as president is to help the tribology and lubrication sector emerge stronger from the pandemic,” said Evans. “By bringing this highly technical and diverse community back together and leveraging our extensive resources for technical research, education and professional development, we can create a new path forward for innovation.” 

In his current role at Timken, Evans is responsible for leading teams that identify and develop new products, materials and manufacturing technologies to meet customer needs. Before transitioning to this position in 2018, he served as the manager of engineering fundamentals and physical testing and was responsible for Timken’s bearing and gear fundamentals, tribology, advanced modeling and simulation, and bearing product performance testing. From 2015 to 2017, Evans worked for manufacturing continuous improvement and supply chain planning groups within Timken’s operations division. 

Evans first joined The Timken Company in 2002 as a researcher in the field of advanced materials and made significant contributions in the areas of thin film coatings, lubrication, advanced materials characterization, and tribology within the R&D division. During his tenure at Timken, Evans authored more than 40 peer-reviewed technical publications and earned 14 patents in these fields. 

Evans is a member of STLE, ASM International and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). He has received several STLE publishing awards and was cited as a recipient of the 2017 ASM International Engineering Materials Achievement Award (on behalf of The Timken Company).  Under his leadership, Timken’s R&D and technology teams received a prestigious R&D 100 award for a wind turbine bearing solution in 2021.   

Evans holds a B.S. from The University of Akron and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Case Western Reserve University in chemical engineering. Since 2004, he has volunteered on STLE’s Surface Engineering and Rolling Element Bearings Technical Committees, the Awards Committee and the Annual Meeting Program Committee.