**NRB’s Strategic Move into Industrial Bearings with Unitec Partnership**
**Meta Description:** NRB partners with Unitec to enter the industrial cylindrical roller bearings market, expanding its capabilities and ambitions in India.
**URL Slug:** nrb-unitec-industrial-bearings-partnership
**NRB’s Strategic Move into Industrial Bearings with Unitec Partnership**
In a significant development, NRB has officially entered the industrial cylindrical roller bearings sector through a partnership with Unitec, a move that has been a long-term vision of chairperson and managing director Harshbeena Zaveri. This expansion, previously hindered by her family’s business legacy, marks a pivotal moment for NRB as it seeks to reclaim its ambitions in the industrial arena.
Zaveri, who joined NRB in 1986 after graduating from Wellesley College, began her career on the shop floor at the Thane plant, emphasizing her commitment to manufacturing excellence and the importance of developing research and development capabilities within India. Her mantra, “Innovation in India, not just Make in India,” has been central to NRB’s identity, focusing on engineering depth, endurance testing, and collaborative development with customers.
Despite successfully transforming NRB into a global supplier of highly engineered automotive bearings, Zaveri had previously refrained from entering the industrial sector, respecting a boundary established by her father that designated this space for her brother’s company. The passing of her father and subsequent ownership disputes complicated matters further, preventing NRB from tapping into a market segment it was well-equipped to serve. However, earlier in 2025, Zaveri bought out her brother, consolidating family ownership and freeing NRB from inherited constraints.
With this newfound autonomy, NRB is now poised to expand into various industrial applications, including construction equipment, off-highway vehicles, agriculture, and industrial gearboxes. The partnership with Unitec lays the groundwork for a more profound engagement in the industrial bearings market, which is estimated to exceed $6 billion in India, while NRB’s domestic revenue currently stands at approximately $120 million. Raghunandhan N.L., executive director at Nuvama Institutional Equities, noted the vast potential for NRB to enhance its market share in this sector.
Unitec, part of the Mondial Group, brings over 60 years of expertise in high-precision industrial bearings, supplying major European original equipment manufacturers such as Bonfiglioli, SAME, Leonardo, and ITEMA. Under the joint venture, NRB will retain a minimum of 75% ownership, with Unitec holding up to 25%. Manufacturing will occur at a new LEED-certified facility in Uppal, Hyderabad. Notably, Unitec has committed to purchasing 20% of the joint venture’s annual output, providing early validation of product capabilities and establishing a solid foundation for market entry.
Zaveri describes the partnership as a “strategic accelerator” that will enhance NRB’s reach into high-performance industrial applications while maintaining a strong focus on profitability.
**FAQ**
**What is the significance of NRB’s partnership with Unitec?**
The partnership allows NRB to enter the industrial cylindrical roller bearings market, expanding its capabilities and ambitions while leveraging Unitec’s expertise in high-precision bearings.