What does Bearings do?
Bearings are used to support spinning components (such as shafts) and bear the load that the rotating components carry. They are also used to support the rotating components themselves. When compared to conventional bearings, contemporary bearings are far more technologically sophisticated and developed in their design. They are increasingly being employed in the production of contemporary powertrains, which contribute to both greater fuel efficiency and a reduction in emissions, and this trend is expected to continue. It is anticipated that this will contribute to the expansion of the market. The manufacturing of bearings in India is experiencing difficulties. The Bearing companies in India have been able to establish a new industry for its people and that sector is now prepared to take on the rest of the globe.
What challenges do you see facing firms in India facing?
Bearing manufacturers in India are up against a multitude of challenges, the three of which rank highest in importance supply, demand, and price. Bearings are in great demand in India, yet there is a limited supply on the market. Because there is a limited supply of bearings, the businesses are unable to reduce their pricing. Because there is such a strong demand for bearings, it might be challenging for businesses to market their goods. The inflexibility of pricing throughout the sector is a significant contributor to the challenges that firms in India are now experiencing. Some of the major reasons are mentioned below
Materials cost
Raw material prices continue to be of paramount importance to the manufacturing industry. Bearings’ prices are significantly associated with the global steel price movement since high-grade steel is the principal raw material utilized in bearing production.
Digitalization
There is no component of the value chain that is immune to the impact of digitalization. The increasing pressure on bearings makers is a direct result of the trend toward digitalization, the ultimate objective of which is to improve performance. In most cases, the inability to recognize essential product and system design needs in conjunction with a deficiency in skill sets is what stands in the way of making effective use of newly developed technology.
The threat posed by fake goods is growing
In recent years, the issue of counterfeit bearings has persisted, and all markets are now vulnerable to obtaining these items of unknown quality, regardless of brand. Counterfeit ball bearings pose a serious threat to machinery because of the negative effects they may have on performance, which can result in lost time and money due to unexpected breakdowns and a drop in sales.
The entire monetary harm caused by fake goods is hard to estimate due to effects like lost sales and brand reputation. Because in recent years, counterfeiters have targeted almost every major bearing manufacturer, efforts are being made to educate consumers about the significance of only purchasing authentic bearings.
Insufficient awareness
The first step in being prepared for supply chain management is to raise one’s level of awareness. The Indian Bearing Market is the most important and the biggest in the whole globe. It is anticipated that bearing companies in India will account for twenty percent of the global market share for bearings. However, the Indian bear market has several issues that need to be addressed. One of the most significant issues is the general public’s ignorance of carrying corporations.
Lack of industry standards
As a result of the absence of industry standards in India, the bearing industry in that nation is inefficient and unable to compete with other bearing firms located across the globe. Because of this, a significant number of bearing firms in India have been compelled to shut their doors. Because ball bearings are not standardized in any way, it might be challenging to locate one that will work on a particular piece of machinery. Second, since there aren’t any standards in place, it’s tough to locate bearings that will last as long as your project requires them to.
Imports
Imports satisfy thirty percent of the overall demand in the bearing business. There is a significant amount of material that is brought in fraudulently, in addition to the legitimate goods that are brought in via the appropriate routes. The specialized bearings that are not produced in India are often what are referred to as “Legal Imports.” In India, there is a diverse selection of imported bearings, each of which has a very insignificant market share.
Even though the quality of bearings produced by bearing companies in India is on par with that of their counterparts across the globe, the domestic production of bearings is not economically feasible owing to the tiny size of the market sector. Because of the substantial amount of capital that is required, the production of bearings of this sort is no longer viable from an economic perspective.
Bottom Line
The growing production of automobiles as well as the number of building projects are both contributing factors in the rise in the demand for bearings. However, since there is a shortage of competent workers, businesses are having trouble producing enough bearings to meet demand. Nevertheless, bearing companies in India are doing their hardest to ensure an ample supply of bearings, and they plan to continue working closely with clients to provide them with the help and knowledge they need.