Steyr, Austria, 31 January 2023. NKE Austria GmbH can proudly look back on last year’s development. In 2022, the Austrian bearings manufacturer recorded growth amounting to 40 percent compared with the year before. Globally, a record turnover of 60 million euros was achieved.
“The strategic focus on sustainable technologies such as wind power and rail vehicles that was introduced three years ago is now bearing fruit,” says Matthias Ortner, Managing Director of NKE in Steyr. “NKE is gaining reputation as the innovative supplier of bearings for the most important wind turbine components, such as gearboxes and generators, or main bearings. We have final product approvals with major wind turbine manufacturers and are finishing the approval process with others. Regarding rail vehicles, we are a preferred supplier for well-known OEM customers, too.”
As part of the Fersa Group, NKE benefits from the global structures of a multinational company, but can keep its rapid decision making and flexibility being a family-run medium-sized business with strong ties to the local community.
“Employees are quickly given responsibility with outstanding opportunities for professional development”, says Ortner. “As part of the Fersa Group, with production sites in Spain, the US, China and India, we can offer an exciting mix of both regional and international possibilities.”
Following two acquisitions last year, the Fersa Group now has sites on every continent, including six production facilities, 19 distribution hubs and four Research and Development centres.
For 2023, the Fersa Group targets a worldwide turnover of 200 million euros. “As far as NKE is concerned, we anticipate an exciting phase of exceptionally high growth,” says Ortner. “To stimulate this growth, we are planning on making further investments of several million euros, including new production lines at our company headquarters in Steyr with a high degree of automation, possible building expansion at the Steyr site, and investment in Research and Development. We intend to make Steyr the global trailblazer for innovative technologies in the industrial sector specialising in wind technology and rail vehicles. In order to make this happen, we are looking for additional employees, particularly those with a background in technology and quality assurance. NKE provides talented young potentials with an excellent platform on which they can grow both personally and professionally.”
NKE produces standard and special bearings for all industrial applications. Engineering, product development, production and final processing of components, assembly, quality assurance, logistics, and sales and marketing are centralised at its Steyr headquarters with more than 100 employees. In addition to product development and application engineering, NKE provides a full range of technical services, consulting, documentation and training. NKE’s products are distributed through 12 international offices and more than 240 distribution outlets in 80 countries.
