Bearing Industry Daily: RIFA Precision Attracts Institutional Investors, JTEKT Restructures European Operations
Mar 18, 2026| On March 17, RIFA Precision Machinery consecutively received surveys from two institutions, China Life AMP Fund and Guolian Fund, becoming a popular target for institutional surveys that day.
[Table 1: RIFA Precision Survey Core Information]
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Survey Date | March 17, 2026 |
| Surveying Institutions | China Life AMP Fund, Guolian Fund |
| Participation Form | Roadshow Activities |
Survey minutes show that RIFA Precision's subsidiary, RIFA Grande, produces seven series of products including bearing grinding super-automatic lines, assembly lines, and CNC thread grinders. It has grown into a market share leader in China's bearing manufacturing equipment sector and become an important partner for internationally renowned suppliers.
The company revealed that it now has the production capacity for high-precision CNC thread grinding equipment, with some equipment already delivered to customers such as Bester and Wuxi Xinchang. However, the company noted that industries such as humanoid robots are still in early stages, and industrialization release will take time.
[Table 2: RIFA Precision Bearing Equipment Business Overview]
| Business Segment | Product Series | Market Position |
|---|---|---|
| RIFA Grande | Bearing grinding lines, assembly lines, CNC thread grinders (7 series) | Domestic leader, partner to int'l suppliers |
| RIFA Nippon Denki | CNC machines (automotive, aerospace, power equipment) | Multi-industry application |
RIFA Precision stated that it will focus on its core business, improve quality and efficiency, and create high-precision, high-efficiency, intelligent products and production lines to enhance market competitiveness.
2. Japan's JTEKT to Close Romanian Bearing Factory, European Restructuring Continues
On the international bearing front, Japan's JTEKT Corporation is adjusting its European business布局. The bearing factory in Alexandria, Romania has received notice from its parent company that it will gradually close, with completion expected by March 2027.
[Table 3: JTEKT Romania Factory Overview]
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Factory Location | Alexandria, Romania |
| Employees | 820 |
| Parent Group | JTEKT Corporation (Toyota ecosystem) |
| Closure Date | Expected March 2027 |
The factory is the largest private employer in Teleorman County. Local government officials confirmed meeting with the JTEKT delegation; the company stated it cannot continue operations and is currently consulting with unions.
JTEKT is one of the world's largest bearing and automotive component manufacturers, part of the Toyota ecosystem. This Romanian factory closure is part of its European industrial布局adjustment, as the Group restructures its European operations through a series of transactions and factory closures.
3. Luoyang Bearing Company Enters Flying Vehicle Sector
New developments have emerged in the low-altitude economy sector. Luoyang Luoyang Bearing Precision Co., Ltd. recently won a bid for a flying vehicle project with a Sichuan-based low-altitude economy technology company. It will customize and develop special rotor bearings, officially entering the flying vehicle core supply chain.
[Table 4: Flying Vehicle Bearing Project Overview]
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Winning Company | Luoyang Luoyang Bearing Precision Co., Ltd. |
| Application Area | Flying vehicle rotor system |
| Partner | Sichuan-based low-altitude economy technology company |
| Significance | Entry into flying vehicle core supply chain |
This marks another布局 by a domestic bearing company in the low-altitude economy赛道. As the flying vehicle industry gradually moves from concept to reality, demand for core component配套 is emerging.
4. SKF Adjusts Business Structure, Preparing for Automotive Spin-off
Swedish bearing giant SKF has introduced a new segment reporting structure effective from the first quarter of this year. The Group will report three business segments: Bearing Solutions, Specialized Industrial Solutions, and Automotive.
This adjustment prepares for the upcoming spin-off of the automotive business. Simultaneously, SKF has restated figures for 2024 and 2025 to facilitate comparisons. Following this change, the seals business for automotive applications has been moved to Specialized Industrial Solutions, reducing the Automotive segment's 2025 sales by SEK 2.4 billion.
[Table 5: SKF New Business Structure (from Q1 2026)]
| Business Segment | Adjustment Content |
|---|---|
| Bearing Solutions | Core bearing business |
| Specialized Industrial Solutions | Includes automotive seals (transferred from Automotive) |
| Automotive | Sales reduced by SEK 2.4 billion (2025) |