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Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Jack Dixon Jack Dixon London, United Kingdom Last Updated: April 2024 SIC C28.150

Revenue

£1.3bn

2024-25

£1.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XXX.Xm

Employees

7,719

Businesses

190

Wages

£XXX.Xm

Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK industry analysis

Bearing and gear manufacturing companies produce numerous types of bearings, gearboxes, clutches and transmission shafts. Despite being artificially inflated by re-exports and intermediate imported goods, international trade is crucial to the industry. The UK bearing and manufacturing industry is small compared to the global industrial gears and bearing systems market. High import penetration has resulted in pricing pressure, and foreign producers' quality and cost advantages have siphoned market share away from UK-bearing and gear manufacturers operating in the global market, like NSK Europe Ltd.

Trends and Insights

  • The COVID-19 outbreak caused immense disruption. Manufacturing activity fell off a cliff at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak as most activity was put on hold, massively denting revenue. Revenue and output have since had a slow recovery.
  • The quality of gearboxes has gone up. This is thanks to advances in gearbox manufacturing. However, this has led to a sharp decline in gearbox sales as their durable nature now means they don’t need to be replaced so often.
  • The West Midlands is a popular manufacturing hub. The region has a historically high level of manufacturing activity. The region’s efficient transport links also make it attractive for bearing and gear manufacturers.
  • Larger companies benefit from economies of scale. Smaller manufacturers struggle to compete with prominent manufacturers that can leverage economies of scale, extensive international networks and multifaceted operations.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 2.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £1.3bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

COVID-19 disruption slashes manufacturing output

  • The pandemic was the sole reason for negative revenue growth over the five years through 2023-24. The IHS Market UK Manufacturing PMI fell to a record low of 32.6 in April 2020, the steepest month of contraction since the survey began amid plant closures and slashed production capacity.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Import penetration will remain fierce despite Brexit-related trade barriers

  • Despite the pending introduction of Brexit border checks, import competition will remain high because of the economy of scale and quality advantages held by foreign producers like Germany, the US and China, intensifying price competition.

Biggest companies in the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (£m)
2024
NSK Europe Ltd
185.9
Schaeffler (UK) Ltd
59.9
ERIKS Industrial Services Ltd
45.6

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Bearing housings, Roller and ball bearings and Gearboxes. Bearing housings is the largest segment of the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Innovation spurs roller and ball bearing sales

  • Roller bearings reduce rotational friction and support heavier loads using small cylindrical rollers in industrial applications. Meanwhile, ball bearings have a lower load capacity than roller bearings, thanks to the smaller contact area.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in the industry manufacture ball and roller bearings, mechanical power transmission chains, clutches, flywheels, pulleys, gears and gearboxes. Manufacturers also produce articulated link chains and ball and roller bearing parts.

What's included in this industry?

Roller and ball bearingsGearboxesBearing housingsSub-parts

Companies

NSK Europe LtdSchaeffler (UK) LtdERIKS Industrial Services Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

BEARINGBALL BEARINGROLLER BEARINGSPLIT PLUMMER BLOCK HOUSINGSINDUSTRY 4.0

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 28.15 - Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The COVID-19 outbreak caused immense disruption. Manufacturing activity fell off a cliff at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak as most activity was put on hold, massively den...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The quality of gearboxes has gone up. This is thanks to advances in gearbox manufacturing. However, this has led to a sharp decline in gearbox sales as their durable nature n...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The West Midlands is a popular manufacturing hub. The region has a historically high level of manufacturing activity. The region’s efficient transport links also make it attr...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Larger companies benefit from economies of scale. Smaller manufacturers struggle to compete with prominent manufacturers that can leverage economies of scale, extensive inter...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

A decline in car manufacturing has impacted players. In recent years, leading market share holder NSK Ltd has been harmed by reduced UK car manufacturing.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of NSK Europe Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Schaeffler (UK) Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of ERIKS Industrial Services Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for NSK Europe Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Schaeffler (UK) Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for ERIKS Industrial Services Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Global steel prices heavily sway revenue. Steel is a key input for bearing and gear manufacturers in the production of various products. When global steel prices rise, purcha...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Government-funded support schemes supported profit during the pandemic. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme helped to cushion the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on profit....

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £1.3bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 190 businesses in the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 2.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing market in United Kingdom are NSK Europe Ltd, Schaeffler (UK) Ltd and ERIKS Industrial Services Ltd

What does the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Roller and ball bearings and Gearboxes are part of the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is NSK Europe Ltd.

How competitive is the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the UK

Complementors

  • Steel Tube, Pipe & Related Fitting Manufacturing in the UK
  • Chain, Spring & Wire Product Manufacturing in the UK
  • Mining, Quarrying & Construction Machinery Manufacturing in the UK
  • Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories Manufacturing in the UK

International industries

  • Ball Bearing Manufacturing in the US
  • Ball Bearing Manufacturing in Canada
  • Industrial Machinery Manufacturing in Australia
  • Industrial Machinery and Gaming Manufacturing in New Zealand

View all industries in United Kingdom

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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