National Engineering Industries Ltd. establishes a Global Technology Center in Germany

By OEM Update Editorial September 23, 2022 12:31 pm IST

The centre will concentrate on application engineering, product development, and manufacturing technology in the automotive and industrial sectors.

National Engineering Industries Ltd. (NEI), a subsidiary of the US$ 2.4 billion CK Birla Group and the manufacturer of the NBC brand of bearings, announced the opening of its Global Technology Center (GTC) in Würzburg (Wuerzburg), Bavaria (Germany).

The technology center will focus on application engineering, product development and manufacturing technology in the automobile and industrial space. It will support the company’s global and Europe-based OEM customers as well as act as an extended arm for NBC Bearings in India by driving innovation, speed in implementation of new ideas, response to customer requirements and addressing market requirements. The GTC was launched on the sidelines of IAA Transportation 2022 currently underway at Hanover, Germany. 

A competence center approach at the GTC will have dedicated teams work on relevant customer application in e-Motors & eMobility bearings, wheel-end bearings, drivetrain bearings and manufacturing process development. 

“It is a moment of great pride as we start our very first Global Technology Center to focus on customer-centered bearings, an integral component to every kind of machinery,” said Rohit Saboo, President & CEO, National Engineering Industries Ltd. “To have this centre located in Germany, world’s automotive hub of innovation, gives NBC Bearings a strategic advantage of collaborating directly with our global customers which are some of the leading automotive makers offering products tailored to their needs, accelerating response and go to market time,” he added. 

Dr. Lokesh Agrawal, Vice President and Head of R&D, National Engineering Industries Ltd. said, “This is an important milestone for NBC as we continue our journey to be a global player. We have put together a team of very talented and accomplished engineers who will be innovating the future products in the automotive and industrial space.”  

Andreas Knopf, Head of Global Technology Centre, NBC Global (Germany) Gmbh said, “This centre will provide a strong impetus for growth to NBC, both from customer proximity and technology perspective. We will be partnering with customers to develop products for higher speed, durability and for longer service life.” 

To capitalize on the synergies, GTC will also work in close cooperation with NBC Global’s entity in Slovakia, Kinex bearings (a major global supplier of standard and special rolling bearings for various industrial and railways applications with reach to more than 80 countries).