Founded in 1965, NRB Bearings Ltd. (NRB) was the first company to manufacture needle roller bearings in India. For over 40 years NRB has pioneered the bearing manufacturing technology, and today over 90 per cent of vehicles on Indian roads run on NRB parts.
Since inception, NRB has grown to offer a wider range of high-precision friction solutions for mobility applications. A domestic market leader in needle roller bearings and cylindrical roller bearings, it is the first choice for specialised ball bearings, tapered bearings and combination bearing solutions.
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 Bajaj Auto (two- and three-wheelers), Daimler (cars and trucks), GETRAG (world’s largest supplier of transmission systems to passenger and commercial vehicles), Hero MotoCo (two-wheelers), Honda (passenger vehicles and two-wheelers), Mahindra & Mahindra (tractors, two-wheelers and UVs), Tata Motors (passenger and commercial vehicles), Volvo (trucks) and ZF Friedrichshafen, leading driveline technology supplier to passenger and commercial vehicles.
NRB’s customer portfolio has seen marquee additions in its decades of business. Some of the customers have been buyers since its very early days. This is reflective of the long-standing relationship that NRB has established with customers based on its quality and engineering focus.
From design to delivery
The company’s Engineering & Design Centre established in 2000 at Thane is equipped with state-of-the-art design and modelling software, benchmarking analysis system, and simulation and testing facilities. Forty engineers at the centre are primarily M.Tech recruits from leading institutions in the country.
NRB’s manufacturing infrastructure extends into every region of the country. There are six manufacturing plants in India – four in Maharashtra, one each in Hyderabad and Pantnagar – and one in Thailand, giving NRB unparalleled production capabilities and geographical reach. Another lean facility at Ranchi, via its subsidiary SNL Bearings Ltd., provides the company with a base to tackle low-volume products that may not be profitable if manufactured at NRB.
At its seven locations, the company manufactures over 3,000 different products that meet the specialised needs of mobility applications across segments. This product diversity de-risks the company’s revenues as sales are spread across commercial vehicle, passenger vehicle, two- and three-wheelers, farm equipment, off-highway and marine industries.
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
Mrs. Harshbeena S. Zaveri, President and Managing Director of the company, has risen to this position from being a trainee almost 25 years ago when she first joined the business. She has not only contributed to the turnover expansion but it was her foresight that led to the establishment of the Design and Engineering Centre.
Having handled every department in the company from HR to purchase to marketing, she has valuable hands-on experience to guide the company’s growth in the coming years. In her words, “NRB is proud to be India’s premier wide range bearing manufacturer, and it is our vision to become 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.
Led by one of Fortune India’s top-15 “Most Powerful Women in Business”, NRB Bearings is a trailblazer in innovative design. Its high-precision parts are powering vehicles across the globe and, with engineering and quality consciousness, the company is poised to grow from strength to strength in the coming years.