NBC Bearings

National Engineering Industries Ltd. (NBC Bearings)
Industry Manufacturing
Founded 1946
Headquarters Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Number of locations
 4 (Jaipur , Newai, Manesar, Savli)
Key people
 Mr. Rohit Saboo (President & CEO)
Products Automotive Bearings,
Industrial Bearings,
Railways Bearings,
Axle Boxes
Production output
 100 million per annum
Revenue 1352 crore (2013–14)
Number of 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. The company had a gross turnover of Rs 1352 crores in 2013-14.[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]

History

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

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] Apart from the bearing production the company has marked its presence in Next- Gen products for which the company has laid facilities at Durgapura, Jaipur[9] as Taper Hub Assembly division where production of Hub Assemblies for Commercial Vehicles is done. A machine building plant at Jaipur reconditions as well as assembles specific work units.[8] The employee strength is 2500 across three plants.[8]

Capacity

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

The client portfolio includes ConMet, Indian Railways, Hero MotoCorp, Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Daimler AG, Bajaj Auto and Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India.[5] Atul Auto Ltd

Products

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]

Technology

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

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.[12] 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

The company was awarded the prestigious Deming Application Prize by the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE).[13]

NBC at Hannover Messe

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.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ NBC bearings financial information Retrieved 02.04.15
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Auto Tech Reviews page 11 Vol 1 Issue 4 17.12.12
  3. ↑ The Hindu Business Article Retrieved 02.1.13
  4. ↑ Business Week Article Retrieved 02.01.13
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 The hindu business line
  6. ↑ ebearing.com news 12.12.12
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 MSN Business Article Retrieved 24.12.12
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 12 Rail Business, Volume 4, Issue 19-May 2013
  9. ↑ http://www.motorindiaonline.in/aftermarket/nbc-ties-conmet-bring-preset-hub-india/
  10. ↑ Motwn Vol 3 Issue 7, April 2013.
  11. ↑ Business Standard Website Article Retrieved 24.12.12
  12. ↑ Motowin India
  13. ↑ NBC Bearings website's About Us page Retrieved 12.12.12
  14. ↑ Hannover Messe website