NBC Bearings New Delhi: The Jaipur-based bearing supplier to the automotive industry predicts a ‘technology disruption’ in the sector. The company is focusing on expanding its technology offerings across sectors in the bearing industry, Lokesh Agarwal, CTO of NBC Bearings, told ETAuto during the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025.
NBC Bearings, a part of the CK Birla Group, operates across sectors including industrial, automotive, aerospace, and railways. Sharing its plans for the automotive sector, the company aims to partner on ESG initiatives, which they believe will contribute to long-term growth alongside technology development.
NBC Bearings’ automotive sector accounts for 60-70% of its total revenue, with most of the company’s exports going to the auto and railway industries, stated Agarwal. To strengthen its position in the market, the company has unveiled its four-step technology strategy.
NBC Bearings
Four-step technology disruption plans
1. Alternative fuels NBC Bearings is actively working on alternative fuels, predicting significant growth in this area. Focused on the electric vehicle (EV) trend, the company began working on EVs nearly six years ago. Now, it is proactively developing bearings for hydrogen technology.
2. Fuel economy The company is providing solutions to enhance fuel economy by offering products that are more efficient than traditional alternatives. NBC Bearings is addressing diverse customer requirements by improving fuel economy and reducing emissions. Advanced bearing designs and surface engineering techniques reduce frictional losses, thereby enhancing efficiency and meeting stringent emission regulations.
3. Space utilisation NBC Bearings is optimising product design and performance through lightweighting initiatives. “From the bearing side, we can get more power from space,” Agarwal added. Lightweighting aims to reduce material use while boosting efficiency.
4. Prognostic capabilities The company is transitioning from diagnostics to prognostics, in line with evolving trends in the automotive market. By integrating sensors and IoT technology into bearing systems, NBC Bearings enables real-time performance monitoring. This allows for predictive maintenance, reducing downtime and improving reliability. Digital transformation in manufacturing further streamlines operations and accelerates the development of next-generation products.
Challenges
One challenge faced by bearing manufacturers is raw material sourcing and cost management. “The volatility of raw material prices, coupled with the need for high-quality inputs, necessitates a strategic approach. Indigenisation, or sourcing materials locally, is a key strategy being adopted to ensure supply chain stability and cost efficiency,” said Agarwal.
This challenge can be addressed with continuous support and collaboration from steel manufacturers and material scientists, ensuring the delivery of high-quality products while minimising environmental impact.
