1. The Bearing Industry and ABMA Al Nixon, The Torrington Company
A Perspective on
The Bearing Industry and ABMA
Al Nixon, The Torrington Company
Scott Lynch, ABMA
BSA Presentation Palm Springs, CA April 30, 2001

2. 1999 World Bearing Sales
$25.0 Billion

3. World Bearing Industry
Number of bearings produced per day: million
Amount of steel consumed per day: 10 million pounds
Size range - 1/16” (1.5875mm) to 14 ft (4.267m)
Price range - 10¢ to $200,000

4. US Bearing Industry
Bearing industry accounts for about 180 plants in the U.S.
Employs about 36,000 workers in the U.S.
Large international and smaller specialty companies
Largest producers in the U.S. also the largest in the world

5. USA Production Breakdown
$5.7 Billion
Source: ABMA

6. USA Bearing Applications
Source: ABMA

7. Shipments for the Industry
Source: US Industry & Trade Outlook 2000
CAGR 5.1%
Millions of Dollars

8. Imports of Ball and Roller Bearings
Source: US Industry & Trade Outlook 2000
CAGR 6.4%
Millions of Dollars

9. Industry Trends Consolidation Globalization
Developing country production
Price - competitiveness in the world market
Improved steel quality & new materials, i.e. ceramics

10. ABMA

11. ABMA
Started in 1917 to help aid bearing production during World War I.
Eventually formed the Anti-Friction Bearing Manufacturers Association (AFBMA).
In 1993, the organization decided to change to the American Bearing Manufacturers Association (ABMA) to include component manufacturers.
Membership Requirements - Manufacture bearings or major components in the US.
Component Manufacturers
Delta Rubber - Seals
Cooper Products - Ceramic Balls
As long as a company manufactures in the US their headquarters can be overseas and still be member of ABMA. SKF and FAG are two good examples.

12. ABMA Members
Here is a list of many of the ABMA members. Some of these companies are in the room right now.
ABMA members range from large corporations to small component and specialized manufacturers.

13. Role of ABMA Conduct Industry Conferences and Meetings
Define National and International Standards
Offer Targeted Education Programs
Compile Market Statistics
Role of ABMA
ABMA is focused on maximizing the networking capability of US bearing manufacturing. ABMA has four main roles to the membership.

14. ABMA Meetings
Spring Meeting - Washington DC - Focused on keeping up contacts with government agencies and elected officials
Annual Conference - Theme-oriented and networking opportunity. Past themes have included Supply Chain Management and E-Business
World Bearing Summit (WBS) Meeting - Members of ABMA, Japanese Bearing Industry Association (JBIA) and Federation of European Bearing Manufacturers Association (FEBMA) get together and discuss issues dealing with the global bearing industry. This year’s meeting will be Washington DC on May , 2001.

15. ABMA Standards Program
ANSI/ABMA Standards
ANSI/ABMA/ISO Standards
Bearing Technical Committee (BTC)
B3 Committee - Accredited Standards Developer
Secretariat for ISO Committees
ABMA Standards Set
Two types of Standards
ANSI/ABMA
ANSI/ABMA/ISO
BTC -
Made up of representatives from ABMA member companies specializing in bearing standards.
This committee makes recommendations for new standards and revisions of old standards.
B3-
This is the standards development arm of ABMA accredited though the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
This committee is made of up of ABMA representatives and industry professionals who work with bearings.
ISO Secretariat
US Voting Body for International Standards for the Technical Committee on Bearings (TC4). Secretariat for SC6, SC9, SC11.

16. ABMA Education Program
In the early 1990’s, Penn State University Professor, Ted Harris, a former SKF USA employee, worked with ABMA and ad-hoc committee of ABMA members to put together a curriculum on bearing technology.
Program began in 1995 with three courses at Penn State.
Since its inception in 1995, ABMA has offered eight different courses have been offered
In recent years, ABMA has expanded to Georgia Tech University as well as doing a course on Bearings and Their Lubrication at the Society for Tribologist and Lubrication Engineers (STLE) meeting .
Over 500 managers & engineers have attended the ABMA courses.

17. 2001 Education Program Advanced Concepts of Bearing Technology
Bearing Basics: A Course for Non-Engineers
Seal Technology: Design Principles & Application
Essential Concepts of Bearing Technology
Application of the New ISO 281 Standard for Bearing Life Prediction
Bearing Vibration, Noise & Diagnostics
Bearings and Their Lubrication
2001 program is endorsed by BSA and STLE.
BSA members can attend all ABMA courses at the discounted member rate.

18. ABMA Statistics Program
Current Reports
Quarterly Statistics
Quarter Turns
Import / Export Data
R & D / Profitability & Capital Expenditures
Bearings Market Survey
World Bearing Statistics

19. ABMA
Today, ABMA has 35 member companies manufacturing approximately 80% of the bearings produced in the US.
Similar organizations throughout the world
Japanese Bearing Industry Association (JBIA)
Federation of European Bearing Manufacturers’ Association (FEBMA)
Chinese Bearing Industry Association (CBIA)
India, Ball & Roller Bearing Mfrs. Association (BRBMA)

20. Questions Comments