FERSA GROUP
FERSA´S JOURNEY AS AN OE BEARING MANUFACTURER Powered by Inside Sustainability
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FERSA GROUP
I PROFILE
The Spanish multinational Fersa is an expert in the manufacture of bearings and powertrain solutions. A commitment to developing first-class components has enabled Fersa to become an OE and Tier 1 supplier trusted by the world´s leading OEMs in the automotive, and wind-energy industries. Chief Business Development Officer Hugo Santos outlined the company’s story to Phil Nicholls.
C
ontinuous investment in tech-
“We strive to help automotive and industrial
nology, capacity and research and
manufacturers optimise their applications for
product development has played a
enhanced performance, reduced emissions
pivotal role in Fersa’s journey to becoming an OEM and an approved Tier-1 supplier,
and lower energy consumption.” Fersa was born in 1968 in Spain, when two
serving industry leading companies such
family companies from Zaragoza, Talleres
as Mercedes, MAN, Meritor, ZF, Envision,
Abad y Sánchez and AJR Rodamientos, united
Nordex and Siemens among many other
to create the brand Ferdsa. This was renamed
top manufacturers worldwide.
Fersa (Fábricas Europea de Rodamientos SA)
“This commitment has empowered us to
in 1993. Yet the origin of Fersa can be traced
adapt to the ever-changing needs and chal-
back to 1945, when one of these companies
lenges, ensuring that our products meet the
started the development of tapered roller
dynamic requirements of the automotive,
bearings. The early development of this tech-
wind and railway industries,” Chief Business
nology was key to Fersa’s position today as a
Development Officer Hugo Santos explained.
worldwide referent on bearing manufacture.
“At the core of our approach lies the desire
Today, Fersa employs around 850 people,
to provide innovative and highly efficient
distributed among five R&D centres based
bearing solutions.
in Zaragoza (Spain), Steyr (Austria), Mumbai
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Chief Business Development Officer Hugo Santos
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FERSA GROUP
I PROFILE
solutions. It serves as the flagship brand and company of Fersa, excelling in providing high-performance bearings, complete repair kits and smart mobility solutions for the drivetrain, covering all applications such as axles, high-efficiency differentials and automated manual transmission systems for commercial trucks. These include popular AMT models such as Detroit DT12, Volvo iShift, Eaton Ultrashift and ZF Traxon transmissions. NKE Bearings, based in Austria, specialises in advanced bearings and large size bearing solutions, primarily catering to the wind energy sector. Offerings include hybrid bearings, black oxide bearings and special bimetal components integrated with antifriction technology. With a strong focus on wind energy applications, NKE Bearings provides reliable and high-performance bearing (India) and in the Chinese cities of Jiaxing
solutions that meet the specific demands of
and Shenyang. The company also has 18 dis-
the wind industry.
tributing centres and seven factories around
Finally, PFI Bearings, headquartered in Ohio,
the world, offering support and service to
USA, offers a comprehensive range of bearing
customers in more than 100 countries.
solutions for passenger vehicles and EV appli-
Boosted by a 57% increase in turnover
cations. This company focuses on bearings
between 2021 and 2022, Fersa has wit-
for electrical applications including starters
nessed impressive growth. For the 2023
and alternators, as well as wheel bearings.
financial year, the company expects to
With a strong focus on product development
surpass €200 million and has a 2030
and innovation, PFI is on the quest to lead the
target of achieving €1 billion in sales.
EV aftermarket, offering complete rebuild solutions for critical Tesla applications such
Specialised focus strategy Fersa comprises multiple companies,
Drive Units and A/C Compressors. “Our expertise in ball bearings and electric
each specialising in specific solutions and
applications allows Fersa to invest in
market segments, while also leveraging
research and development to address
cross-expertise and synergies to offer
emerging market needs,” Mr Santos said.
a comprehensive range of solutions and
“In fact, we have set our sights on becoming
services to customers. Fersa Bearings,
the go-to bearing brand for Tesla and elec-
based in Spain, is an expert in powertrain
tric vehicle repair solutions.”
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Alongside these companies, Fersa also has
in conjunction with the NKE Bearing College,
two programmes dedicated to customers.
forms an integral part of Fersa’s educa-
“Fersa Care and Fersa Academy are integral
tional initiatives. These Bearing Training
components of our commitment to providing
Programmes are designed to empower
exceptional customer service and fostering
customers’ staff with specialised knowl-
long-term partnerships,” Mr Santos explained.
edge and training related to bearings.
“We firmly believe that this extra care and attention are essential elements of our suc-
Relentless research
cess, especially in the automotive aftermarket
With this solid foundation, Fersa’s ongoing
and industrial MRO segments.”
R&D programme leverages the combined
Fersa Care is a comprehensive customer
knowledge and experience of the whole
care programme designed to cater to the
organisation to support the evolving automo-
diverse needs of clients. It encompasses
tive industry's transition to electric mobility.
several key components, including technical
“Our innovation efforts are channelled
support, technical training, extended product
through three primary pillars: performance
warranties and priority service conditions for
and efficiency, connectivity, and electrifi-
top customers. Meanwhile, Fersa Academy,
cation,” Mr Santos continued. “By focusing
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FERSA GROUP
I PROFILE
on these areas, our robust R&D capabilities
careful monitoring, according to Mr Santos:
have yielded significant advancements in
“We use indicators, such as the generated
bearing technology, specifically tailored to
waste and electricity consumed per
the automotive, wind energy and railway
manufactured bearing, to evaluate our
industries. These developments have
environmental impact and to be able to
resulted in bearings with improved durability,
detect an increase in any of these variables.
effectively mitigating premature failures and
Thanks to our Environmental Management
extending the lifespan of applications.”
System certified with ISO 14001 and the
Concrete examples of Fersa’s innova-
measures derived from that plan, we
tions include hybrid bearings, electrically
manage to reduce our overall waste.”
insulated bearings and smart hubs. All of
Fersa also uses a carbon footprint
these are well-established products
calculator and has installed photovoltaic
offered to OEM and Tier-1 customers.
panels. This is in addition to a system
Alongside this dedicated research, Fersa is also committed to reducing the carbon footprint of its own operation and across the industries it serves. This involves
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to recirculate coolant and filtered oil to extend its useful life. “We prioritise suppliers that are ISO 14001 certified,” Mr Santos said. “If they
are not, then we ask for certain environ-
of electric and conventional vehicles,”
mental requirements, including a control
Mr Santos explained. “It has also allowed us
plan for environmental aspects and
to diversify our product range and meet
a plan to reduce waste.”
those market needs and trends that require solutions to improve efficiency and reduce
A fantastic future
friction in applications.”
Building on this framework, Fersa aims to
In conclusion, Mr Santos was clear
continue growing through organic growth
about what makes Fersa a unique and
and by introducing innovative and more
successful company: “It is down to our
valuable solutions in the bearing world. This
team and our culture. We have a very
is in addition to acquiring other bearing com-
entrepreneurial culture, where we foster
panies that extend its range of products. The
a start-up environment.
recent majority stake in Delux Bearings is an
“Fersa gives autonomy to the team, and
example of how Fersa plans to strengthen
we continuously motivate them to innovate
its leading position in the market.
and to take risks: I think our start-up culture
“The investment in Delux has provided
unleashes a strong ownership feeling in
Fersa with extensive knowledge and
all of us, and although it creates a very
experience in bearings and advanced
demanding environment, it also allows us
electronic applications for the powertrain
to really enjoy what we do.”
n
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