In this summer of 2026, I stood at the warehouse entrance, watching another container of precision bearings about to set off for overseas. The box was printed with our brand logo, and the destination was Genoa, Italy.
A question suddenly popped into my mind: How did those enterprises that have survived for 100 years get there?
The industry I’m in – manufacturing pillow block bearings – is precisely a field that produces a lot of century-old enterprises. SKF from Sweden was founded in 1907, NSK from Japan in 1916, and FAG in Germany started in 1883. They span three centuries, have endured two world wars, numerous economic crises, and countless technological revolutions, yet still stand firm.
So, what exactly does it take to be a century-old bearing company?
First, it’s about trust.
There’s a saying in foreign trade: “Your reputation is your only asset in the overseas market.” Bearings are the joints of industry, and you can’t afford to be dishonest. When raw material prices fluctuate, we fulfill the contract at the original price; when shipping schedules are tight, we pay for the change in shipping to a faster vessel. After the customer receives the goods, they send an email saying: “Thank you for keeping your word.” – This is the reward for trust.
Second, it’s about quality.
SKF’s bearings can operate for 100,000 hours in extreme conditions. This is not due to marketing rhetoric, but to metallurgical technology, heat treatment processes, and the precision control of every step. As a Chinese foreign bearing exporter, what we do is export products, and we benchmark against global standards. Before each batch of goods is dispatched, all the test data is archived for future reference – this is the most basic respect for the word “quality”.
Third, it’s about service.
When a customer in a time difference of 12 hours sends a technical consultation, our engineers provide a selection plan within 24 hours; when the customer encounters problems with customs clearance, we coordinate with the freight forwarder to handle them overnight. What we sell to the customer is not just two metal rings and a few rollers, but a complete solution and an assurance of “any problem, contact me anytime”.
Fourth, it’s about persistence.
As a bearing exporter for ten years, I’ve seen too many people come and go. A fluctuation in exchange rates or a round of price hikes in raw materials is enough to make some people switch careers. But those who remain are the ones who can endure the cold bench. Bearings rotate at thousands of revolutions per minute, and we have been in this industry for more than a decade – persistence means holding onto the most long-term principles in the least glamorous industry.
Fifth, it’s about commitment.
Commitment is not the cold terms written in a contract, but the behavioral guidelines engraved in the heart. Commitment is to deliver on time even if it means incurring losses, to recall and redo even when there are minor flaws, and to truthfully inform the customer about the actual situation of each batch of goods even if they don’t ask.
Looking back at SKF, NSK, etc., they have achieved what they have today not because of the intelligence of a certain generation, but because of the persistence of generations. We, the generation of bearing exporters, may not be able to witness our brand becoming a century-old enterprise. But everything we do right today – upholding trust, insisting on quality, doing good service, persisting, and fulfilling commitments – is making that day come earlier.
One promise for a hundred years, starting today.