National Engineering Industries Ltd. (NBC Bearings)

Industry Manufacturing

Founded 1946

Headquarters Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Number of locations 3 (Jaipur , Newai, Manesar)

Key people Mr. Rohit Saboo (President & CEO)

Products Automotive Bearings,

Industrial Bearings,

Railways Bearings,

Axle Boxes

Production output 100 million per annum

Revenue 1216 crore (2011–12)

Employees 2,700 (end 2011)

Website www.nbcbearings.com

NBC Bearings is the product of National Engineering Industries Limited (NEI), a part of the CK Birla group, which

manufactures a wide range of bearings for the automotive, industrial and railways markets under the NBC brand. The

company had a gross turnover of Rs 1216 crores in 2011-12.[1] NEI manufactures bearings in about 1000 different

sizes.[2] The foreign acquisition plans are in advanced stages with the company in talks with 5-6 firms for a buyout.

The acquisitions being considered are in Eastern Europe,Germany and Spain. According to Rohit Saboo, the

President and CEO, the company is planning to invest $50 million in the acquisitions.[3][4][5]

Contents

  [hide] 

1 History

2 Facilities

3 Market

4 Capacity

5 Clients

6 Products

7 Technology

8 Research and Development

9 Awards & Recognitions

10 NBC at Hannover Messe

11 See also

12 References

History[edit]

The company is a flagship concern of 150-year-old CK Birla group and was set up in 1946 by the industrialist Sh. BM

Birla. The company, formerly known as National Bearing Company Ltd, changed its name to National Engineering

Industries Ltd. in 1958.[6]

Facilities[edit]

The company has three manufacturing facilities located at Jaipur, Newai and Manesar. The company will be investing

Rs 500 crore for expansion in existing facilities and the setting up of a fourth plant.[7] The fourth plant at Savli, near

Vadodara, is about to commence production.[8] A machine building plant at Jaipur reconditions as well as assembles

specific work units.[8] The employee strength is 2500 across three plants.[8]

Market[edit]

It is the second-largest Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) bearings to all the leading companies of India and

abroad . In addition, the company exports bearings to more than 21 countries including OEMs in Europe and USA.[1] Being one of the largest exporters of bearings from India, around 50 percent of its exports are for railways. [9]

Capacity[edit]

NBC’s current capacity is to make 100 million bearings annually across its three plants. NEI aims to double the

production capacity in next seven years.[7] The NBC brand commands a market share of 24% in the domestic market.

Approximately 70% of NEI's sales are to original equipment manufacturers and 30% into the replacement market.[2] The turnover approximates 60% from the auto sector (OEM and aftermarket), 30% for railway products and 10%

from the low volume industrial applications.[8] The ability to meet customers’ needs from product concept resulted in

development of 60 new products in the year.[8]

Clients[edit]

The client portfolio includes Indian Railways, Hero MotoCorp, Maruti Suzuki , Tata Motors, Mahindra &

Mahindra, Daimler AG, Bajaj Auto and Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India.[5]

Products[edit]

NEI manufactures bearings in about 1000 different sizes.[2] The size of bearings manufactured by NBC ranges from

25 mm to 1.3 metre Outer Diameter.[10]

Ball bearings

Steel ball bearings

Tapered roller bearings

Railway bearings

Large diameter bearings

Technology[edit]

NEI uses a heat treatment machine (furnace) from Chugairo, Japan. The grinding technology is sourced

from Izumi of Japan, Nova ofItaly, LMT of Sweden and FMT of Italy. NEI operates 22 grinding lines out of which 17

are used for Deep Groove Ball Bearing (DGBB) and five are used for Double Row Angular Contact (DRAC) Bearings.[2] NEI is also provided technical assistance by NTN (Japan) and Amsted Rail (Brenco, USA).[2]

Research and Development[edit]

NEI invests in R&D activities. Currently, the company has developed a low torque bearing that can reduce friction up

to 20%, which results in fuel efficiency.[11] The product was developed as a result of understanding the various torque

contributors to the bearing such as grease, seal and internal bearing geometry. The low torque grease has been

developed by various fundamentals on tribo-meter along with design of low torque seal and optimization of internal

geometry to improve fuel efficiency.[9] The company spends 1% of its turnover on R & D activities with an eye on

increasing it to 2% in coming years.[8] The department is staffed by 115 experts and the new facility built in 2006 is in

active growth mode.[8] Thanks to the effort, 12 patents applications have successfully been made last year[8]). The

research work has been split into tribology (the lubrication science), advanced materials, advanced processes,

product design, virtual simulation and testing.[8] For simulation of actual work conditions there are 35 test rigs, which

include four for railways.[8]

Awards & Recognitions[edit]

The company was awarded the prestigious Deming Application Prize by the Union of Japanese Scientists and

Engineers (JUSE).[1]

NBC at Hannover Messe[edit]

NBC Bearings was present at Hanovver Messe 2013 with Indien Gemeinschaftsstand - Engineering Export

Promotion Council (EEPC). It is a prestigious global fair in Germany with focus on core technologies that enables

industrial production, innovation and efficiency.[12]