Fersa

FERSA GROUP

FERSA´S JOURNEY AS AN OE BEARING MANUFACTURER Powered by Inside Sustainability

inside-SUSTAINABILITY.com

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

216 Inside sustainability

Chief Business Development Officer Hugo Santos

Inside sustainability 217

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.”

218 Inside sustainability

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

Inside sustainability 219

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

220 Inside sustainability

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

Inside sustainability 221