- Hello Customer - Log in or Register!
ABC Bearings (formerly Antifriction Bearings Corp., India) announced five-year investment plans that will more than double its bearing production capacity.
The company's target markets in India -- heavy-duty truck and industrial -- are among the fastest-growing in the world. ABC said it needs to pursue aggressive expansion just to maintain its existing market share in such a fast-paced environment.
ABC's manufacturing facility in Bharuch currently is capacity constrained to 6.5 million bearings per year, even though its as-built capacity was reportedly as high as 8 million. After the new plant and equipment additions, capacity will then be approximately 12 million bearings per year.
At one time, ABC also had a manufacturing facility in Lonavala, which it was later forced to divest to Tata Motors for operating cash.
In all, the Bharuch expansion is expected to cost up to 80 crore (USD ?????????????) by 2010.
Pradip Patel, ABC's Managing Director, said: "The expansion is aimed at maintaining market share in the commercial vehicle segment, expand presence in industrial bearings, and increase exports."
ABC's bearing line does not currently target automakers or the two-wheel or three-wheel market segments, and it has no plans to contest the entrenched, often brutal, and highly cost-driven competition there. Mr. Patel said: "Most passenger car manufacturers have an established supply base for bearings; the effort required to enter the market is not feasible."
While 65% of ABC sales are into the heavy truck market, approximately 25% of the product line targets tractors and similar farm implements. The remaining 10% moves into heavy industrial equipment. With the planned expansion, ABC is also adding new CV joint product lines, but the company did not comment if it was another heavy-duty market addition or a move into light-duty.
| Product Model | Inside Diameter | Outside Diameter | Thickness |
| PHE35 bearing | 35 | 122 | 90 |
| PHUSE30 bearing | 30 | 103 | 28 |