NKE Austria announces partnership with Kugler Bimetal

Steyr, Austria, 24 April 2023. Bearing manufacturer NKE Austria GmbH is entering into a strategic partnership with Kugler Bimetal SA, a Swiss producer of bimetallic components and tribological surface finishes. The cooperation was announced at the Hannover Messe in April 2023.

"In the context of this strategic partnership, NKE and Kugler will cooperate in the development and manufacture of solutions for the wind energy market," says Matthias Ortner, Managing Director of NKE in Steyr. "Our objective is to work together to provide the best possible offering to meet the increasingly demanding standards for bearing solutions in this segment. This can also be rolled out to other industrial applications. At the same time, NKE and the Fersa Group will assure the essential global framework conditions for accelerating the growth of Kugler and its innovative solutions."

Headquartered in Le Lignon, Geneva, Kugler Bimetal specialises in solving friction problems. The well-established Swiss company has built its business on meeting the extreme demands that apply not only for components in wind energy, but also in aerospace, the transport sector or for hydraulic equipment. In a special process developed in-house by Kugler, for example, steel parts are coated with the Kugler Tokat lead and lead-free bronze, enabling them to withstand the harshest conditions.

"For NKE, the partnership means rounding out its product portfolio based on a complementary technology in the form of friction bearing," says Ortner. "Because in the wind market we are seeing a clear trend towards ever larger wind turbines, and consequently higher performance classes, which means that the use of friction bearings is attracting more and more attention." Together with rail transport, wind power is one of the most important sectors for the Steyr-based bearing expert, which shifted its strategic emphasis to these applications about three years ago.

Ortner explains that the cultural aspect was also a factor in the decision to enter into the partnership: "Both companies are premium manufacturers in their respective segments, and both are headquartered in the heart of Europe. We are a technology-driven company, keenly aware of cutting edge advances, and together with Kugler we will be working on the new product innovations of tomorrow. In this way, NKE is creating another feature that sets it apart from conventional bearing manufacturers and takes another stride towards offering the best bearing solutions in sustainable industries. Through our cooperation with Kugler in the centre of Europe, we intend to further consolidate our powerful European presence."

Besides bearings for wind power and rail vehicles, 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 centralized at its Steyr headquarters. In addition to product development and application engineering, NKE provides a full range of technical services, consulting, documentation and training.



About Kugler Bimetal:
Kugler Bimetal SA is a Swiss-based company that specializes in producing and supplying high-quality bimetallic components for various industries. With over 80 years of experience, Kugler Bimetal provides innovative and customized solutions to meet specific customer needs, including parts that are produced by modern technologies such as laser cladding. From its Geneva headquarters, the company employs 60 people and has a capable in-house production versatility. Their products are used in applications such as aerospace, defense, mining, energy and industrial equipment wordwide.



About NKE:
NKE Austria GmbH is a leading manufacturer of high-quality bearings with headquarters in Steyr, Austria. Founded in 1996 by a dedicated team of engineers and craftsmen, NKE has always been driven by a commitment to precision and quality. Today, this legacy continues, as the company produces some of the most advanced bearings in the industry. In 2016, the company became a part of Fersa Group, a leading European corporation with locations in 19 countries and over 850 employees that develops, manufactures and distributes high-performance bearings and components for automotive, industrial and energy applications worldwide.



About Fersa Group:
Fersa Group is a Spanish multinational corporation specializing in designing, manufacturing, and distributing mobility solutions, high-performance bearings, and electromechanical components for the OEM & T1 and Aftermarket sectors of automotive, industrial, and energy applications. The company is on five continents, with a global workforce of more than 850 employees and a global structure that includes 6 production centers, 19 distribution centers, and 4 R&D centers worldwide, to support and service customers in more than 100 countries.



Contact:
NKE AUSTRIA GmbH
Im Stadtgut C4
4407 Steyr, Austria
Tel.: +43 7252 86667
Fax: +43 7252 86667 59
E-Mail: office@nke.at
Internet: www.nke.at

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