NRB Bearing, one of India’s leading manufacturers of customised needle and cylindrical bearings  plans to set up a global innovation centre for advanced technologies at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

The centre will focus on building engineering capabilities around hybrid and e-mobility applications. 

The DIFC is home to several of the leading global companies from across the sectors including automotive.   Harshbeena Zaveri, Managing Director, NRB said, "As we see increased awareness about sustainability, there is an increased demand for fuel-efficient vehicles. This has led to development of hybrid vehicles which are now entering the market".

She said that a  pragmatic approach by the industry and the users will see early adoption of these vehicles before the ongoing innovation in enhanced fuel cells and batteries for the development of next generation EVs.

"Product development initiatives along with a rise in the sales of hybrid and EVs will offer the global bearing market a further boost. Our focussed efforts in developing special bearings for hybrid and EVs are aimed at offering improved efficiency, operability, and longer shelf life," Zaveri said. The announced expansion of R&D facilities and capacity expansion in Thailand subsidiary is well on track, the company noted. 

According to NRB, 100 percent  of company's  export output is in hybrid and e-drive passenger cars and trucks from light and medium to the heaviest trucks that have transitioned towards electric powertrains, from the steering, transmission and e-axle to the braking system. This, the company says is a higher proportion than any other bearing company in India.  

NRB exports its products to 45 countries. The company’s management added that despite the Russia-Ukraine conflict and logistical challenges, demand in Europe and America is stable and expanding even as the company expects exports to   rise faster than the domestic market. 

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