Founded in 1965, NRB Bearings Ltd. (NRB) was the first company to manufacture needle roller bearings in India. For 50 years NRB has pioneered the bearing manufacturing technology and is a market leader in the country for needle and cylindrical roller bearings. Recognised for its specialised ball bearings, taper roller bearings and combination bearing solutions, the company’s wide range of high-precision friction solutions are supplied across mobility segments, including two- and three-wheelers, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, farm equipment, defence and off-highway applications.
The product portfolio complemented by in-house engineering and design capabilities has catapulted NRB into becoming a global supplier to major mobility companies worldwide, including Daimler, Germany (cars and trucks), GETRAG, the world’s largest supplier of transmission systems to passenger and commercial vehicles), Honda (passenger vehicles and two-wheelers), John Deere (farm equipment), Suzuki and Volvo (trucks) and ZF Friedrichshafen, a leading driveline technology supplier to passenger and commercial vehicles.
In spite of the slowdown in the domestic markets in the last 12 months NRB’s sales have remained firm. Strong brand recall and focus on quality created demand in the replacement market and increased orders from export OEMs.
From design to delivery
The company’s Engineering & Design Centre, established in 2000 at Thane, is a well-recognised R&D establishment. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art design and modelling software, benchmarking analysis equipment, and simulation and testing facilities. Over 60 engineers working at the centre are primarily M.Tech recruits from leading institutions in the country.
NRB’s manufacturing infrastructure is geographically diverse. There are six manufacturing plants in India – four in Maharashtra, and one each in Hyderabad and Pantnagar – and one in Thailand. Different manufacturing locations provide proximity to domestic OEM customers and dedicated export manufacturing lines. Another lean facility at Ranchi (plant size for 72 per cent-owned subsidiary SNL Bearings Ltd.) provides the group with a base to supply low volume products.
At its various locations the company manufactures over 3,000 different products that cater to the specialised needs of mobility applications, including gear boxes, steering systems, axles and AC compressors. This product diversity ensures that in its areas of expertise NRB is a single window supplier to its customers.
NRB’s supply logistics enables just-in-time delivery to domestic and global customers. The company supplies bearings and allied products to customers in 26 countries across five continents, including Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Sweden and the US.
Experienced leadership & professional management
NRB is led by Mrs. Harshbeena S. Zaveri, one of Fortune India’s top-15 “Most Powerful Women in Business”. Mrs. Zaveri, President and Managing Director, joined the company 27 years ago as an apprentice and has headed varied departments from imports and purchase to sales and marketing to HR and administration. She has not only contributed to the expansion, but it was her foresight that led to the establishment of the Design and Engineering Centre.
In her words, “NRB is proud to be India’s premier wide range bearing manufacturer. It is our vision to be the recognised leader in the design and production of customised friction solutions, with a presence in every vehicle in the world”.
Mrs. Zaveri is supported by a team of experienced professionals who share her vision and passion to take the company to the next level.
NRB is a trailblazer in innovative design, and its high-precision parts are powering vehicles across the globe. With precision engineering and quality consciousness, the company is poised to grow from strength to strength in the coming years.