New Hampshire Ball Bearings

What New Hampshire Ball Bearings does

New Hampshire Ball Bearings, Inc. (NHBB) is a US-based precision bearing manufacturer founded in 1946 in Peterborough, New Hampshire, and operating since 1985 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of MinebeaMitsumi Inc. (TYO:6479), a Japanese precision components conglomerate with over 92,800 employees and 144 consolidated subsidiaries. NHBB operates three specialized US manufacturing divisions: the HiTech Division (Peterborough, NH) producing medium to large ball bearings and cylindrical roller bearings for aircraft engines and gearboxes; the Precision Division (Chatsworth, CA) manufacturing miniature and instrument ball bearings and airframe control ball bearings; and the Astro Division (Laconia, NH) producing rod end, spherical, and self-lubricating sleeve bearings. The company's product portfolio also includes complex bearing assemblies, precision mechanical subassemblies, thin section bearings, patented self-lubricating liner solutions, and a New Product Development Center for extreme-performance applications. Acquisitions of Cerobear (2013) and C&A Tool Engineering (2017), now operating under the NHBB/myonic Business Unit, extended capabilities into ceramic hybrid bearings and precision machined components for medical and fuel-system markets.

NHBB's primary customer base is concentrated in Aerospace & Defense, serving Tier-1 and Tier-2 subsystem manufacturers, prime airframe manufacturers (notably Boeing via FAA Parts Manufacturing Approval for approximately 120 Boeing-licensed spare parts), and MRO facilities. Secondary segments include medical device manufacturers and high-technology industrial customers. The company holds NADCAP accreditation, AS9100 certification (via C&A Tool), ISO 13485, and multiple FAA PMAs, creating significant regulatory barriers to entry in safety-critical aerospace applications. NHBB distributes products through direct enterprise field sales (leveraging MinebeaMitsumi's global sales offices across the Americas, Europe, and Asia) and through authorized distributors including ADEPT Fasteners, Boeing Distribution Services, Jamaica Bearings, Proponent, W.S. Wilson, and Wencor for the MRO market. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, consistent with B2B custom precision manufacturing.

NHBB is an integral part of the MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace global brand, launched in 2019 to unify eight bearing and machined components brands (NHBB, myonic, CEROBEAR, C&A Tool, Mach Aero, NMB-Minebea UK, and others) under a coordinated aerospace go-to-market. The company employs over 1,500 workers across its US operations and has received multiple safety awards from the National Safety Council, including a Two Million Work Hours Award in 2024 and a 1.4 MW-DC solar installation at the Chatsworth Precision Division campus. In July 2025, Rich Bardellini was appointed President following Dan Lemieux's retirement, ensuring leadership continuity given Bardellini's 32-year tenure with the company.

Name

New Hampshire Ball Bearings

Legal name

New Hampshire Ball Bearings, Inc.

Website

https://nhbb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

New Hampshire Ball Bearings is a US precision bearing manufacturer and MinebeaMitsumi subsidiary producing ball, roller, rod end, spherical, and self-lubricating bearings plus complex bearing assemblies for aerospace, defense, medical, and high-technology markets from three US divisions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Aerospace Bearings and Bearing Assemblies

NAICS

Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing (332991), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)

SIC

Ball & Roller Bearings (3562), Aircraft & Parts (3720)

akta.pro primary industry

Aerospace Bearings, Bushings & Motion Components (IMABANAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Rotorcraft Parts & Components Manufacturing (Tier Suppliers) (IMABABAM)

Keywords

• Precision ball bearings
• Aerospace bearing assemblies
• Rod end bearings
• Cylindrical roller bearings
• Airframe control bearings

Headquarters

HQ city

Peterborough

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Precision Bearings and Bearing Assemblies: NHBB generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of precision bearings including miniature, medium/large, cylindrical roller, thin section, and airframe control ball bearings, as well as complex bearing assemblies for aerospace, defense, medical, and high technology markets.
2. Rod End and Spherical Bearings: Production and sale of specialized rod end bearings, spherical bearings, sleeve bearings, and loader slot bearings with self-lubricating options

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

New Hampshire Ball Bearings (NHBB) manufactures and sells precision bearings and complex bearing assemblies for aerospace, defense, medical, and high technology markets. Its portfolio includes miniature and instrument ball bearings, medium to large ball bearings, cylindrical roller bearings, thin section ball bearings, airframe control ball bearings, rod end and spherical bearings, self-lubricating sleeve bearings, loader slot bearings, and next-up complex bearing assemblies. Production is organized across three US divisions — HiTech (Peterborough, NH), Precision (Chatsworth, CA), and Astro (Laconia, NH) — with engineering support from an in-house New Product Development Center.

Product overview

New Hampshire Ball Bearings (NHBB) is a tiered portfolio of specialized precision bearing solutions organized into three US manufacturing divisions: the HiTech Division (Peterborough, NH) producing medium to large ball bearings and cylindrical roller bearings for aircraft engines; the Precision Division (Chatsworth, CA) manufacturing miniature and instrument ball bearings and airframe control bearings; and the Astro Division (Laconia, NH) specializing in rod end, spherical, and sleeve bearings. The company's product lines include Ball & Roller Bearings (miniature, medium/large, cylindrical roller, thin section, airframe control, complex assemblies, precision subassemblies) and Rod End & Spherical Bearings (rod ends, spherical bearings, self-lubricating sleeve bearings, loader slots, next-up assemblies, patented self-lubricating liners), complemented by MinebeaMitsumi Products & Solutions and a New Product Development Center for custom engineering. NHBB operates as a subsidiary of MinebeaMitsumi Inc. and is an integral part of MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace, serving aerospace, defense, medical, and high technology markets globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace: Global brand comprising seven distinctive bearing and machined components brands including NHBB, myonic, CEROBEAR, C&A Tool, Mach Aero, NMB-Minebea UK, and MinebeaMitsumi, offering tiered portfolio of aerospace solutions.

Products and services

• Miniature & Instrument Ball Bearings Precision miniature and instrument ball bearings designed for aerospace, medical, and high technology applications requiring extremely tight tolerances and reliability.
• Medium to Large Ball Bearings Medium and large diameter ball bearings for demanding aerospace applications including aircraft engines and gearboxes.
• Cylindrical Roller Bearings Cylindrical roller bearings designed for high-load applications in aerospace engines and industrial machinery.
• Thin Section Ball Bearings Thin section ball bearings with compact designs for applications with limited space constraints.
• Airframe Control Ball Bearings Specialized ball bearings for aircraft flight control systems, landing gear, and airframe actuation assemblies, qualified to Boeing specifications.
• Complex Bearing Assemblies Custom-engineered complex bearing assemblies integrating multiple bearing types and components for specialized aerospace applications.
• Precision Mechanical Subassemblies Precision mechanical subassemblies combining bearings with integrated components for demanding aerospace subsystems.
• Rod End Bearings Rod end bearings for aircraft control systems and mechanical linkages, providing articulation and rotation under load.
• Spherical Bearings Spherical bearings accommodating misalignment and angular movement in aerospace applications.
• Self-Lubricating Sleeve Bearings Self-lubricating sleeve bearings featuring patented liner solutions for reduced maintenance and extended service life in aerospace applications.
• Loader Slot Bearings Specialized loader slot bearings for aerospace and industrial applications requiring unique mounting configurations.
• Next-Up Assemblies & Complex Bearings Advanced next-level bearing assemblies integrating multiple components and bearing types for sophisticated aerospace applications.
• Patented Self-Lubricating Liner Solutions Proprietary self-lubricating liner technology for rod end and spherical bearings, eliminating the need for external lubrication.
• MinebeaMitsumi Products & Solutions Standard, precision, and customized bearing designs qualified to AS7949 and customer specifications, leveraging the MinebeaMitsumi Group's global manufacturing capabilities.
• New Product Development Center (NPDC) Engineering Services Engineering and development services for creating unique, high-performance bearing solutions for extreme application requirements.
• myonic USA Precision Miniature Ball Bearings Precision miniature ball bearings manufactured by myonic GmbH, available through NHBB's Chatsworth, CA facility for dental handpiece and medical applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple FAA PMA approvals for Boeing-licensed spare parts expanding MRO market presence
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ProponentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 3 April 2024Proponent, headquartered in Brea, CA, is a leading independent global aerospace parts distribution business. NHBB signed Proponent as an authorized aircraft bearing distributor to support its strategy of increasing business in the MRO sector, chosen for its deep market knowledge and broad access to end-users.
• Sharp Energy Solutions CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2021Sharp Energy Solutions Corporation (SESJ), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sharp Corporation of Osaka, Japan, is the manufacturer of 440-watt crystalline PV modules for NHBB's 1.4 MW-DC solar installation at the Precision Division campus in Chatsworth, CA.
• C&A Tool Engineering, Inc.coreOthers · 20 September 2017C&A Tool Engineering, Inc. was acquired by MinebeaMitsumi and operates under the NHBB/myonic Business Unit. C&A provides customized precision machined components for aerospace, medical, fuel system, and industrial markets. Based in Churubusco, Indiana with 580+ employees and 700,000+ sq ft of space.
• ADEPT FastenerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 January 2017ADEPT Fasteners is a stocking distributor of fasteners and bearings for airframe, engine, military, and satellite industries. Headquartered in Valencia, California with eight US/Canada locations, UK office, and global sales network.
• KLX Aerospace SolutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 January 2017KLX Aerospace Solutions is a leading distributor and value-added service provider of aerospace fasteners, bearings and consumables. Headquartered in Miami, FL with 19 US/Canada locations and 18 locations across Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe.
• MinebeaMitsumi Inc.coreOthersMinebeaMitsumi Inc. is the parent company of NHBB. MinebeaMitsumi is a comprehensive precision components manufacturer with 144+ consolidated subsidiaries operating 144 manufacturing facilities worldwide with over 92,800 employees. NHBB is an integral part of MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace global brand.
• NMB-Minebea do Brasil Importação e ComérciominorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrazil sales office for MinebeaMitsumi Group handling bearing and precision component sales in South America.
• Minebea Trading (Shanghai) LtdminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChina sales office handling MinebeaMitsumi product sales and distribution in China.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Regal Rexnord: Regal Rexnord (formerly Regal Beloit, with Rexnord's aerospace bearings business) is a diversified industrial manufacturer with aerospace bearing and engineered components offerings. It competes with NHBB in airframe bearings and engineered bearings for aerospace and defense customers as part of a much broader industrial portfolio.
• NTN Corporation: NTN is a major Japanese bearing manufacturer with a global aerospace bearings business producing ball bearings, roller bearings, and complex assemblies for aircraft engines and airframes. NTN competes with NHBB/MinebeaMitsumi in precision aerospace bearings from a broader diversified bearing portfolio.
• Timken (GGB / Timken Aerospace): Timken operates a major aerospace bearings business (including the GGB plain bearings brand) producing ball bearings, roller bearings, and plain bearings for aerospace and defense applications. As a broad incumbent, Timken competes with NHBB in airframe and engine bearing categories with the scale of a much larger diversified industrial manufacturer.
• NSK Aerospace: NSK is one of Japan's largest bearing manufacturers with an aerospace division producing high-precision ball and roller bearings for aircraft engines, airframes, and landing gear systems. NSK competes with NHBB across multiple aerospace bearing categories from a much larger diversified global bearing portfolio.
• SKF Aerospace: SKF is the world's largest bearing manufacturer and a broad incumbent with a significant aerospace division producing precision bearings, spherical plain bearings, and rod end bearings for airframe and engine applications. SKF competes with NHBB across virtually every aerospace bearing category as part of a much larger diversified portfolio.

Direct peers

• AST Bearings: AST Bearings is a US distributor and value-added supplier specializing in precision miniature bearings, thin section bearings, and aerospace bearings, including custom engineered solutions. AST competes with NHBB's Precision Division in miniature and instrument ball bearings, with overlap in aerospace and high-tech customers.
• Schaeffler (Barden / FAG / INA Aerospace): Schaeffler is one of the world's largest bearing manufacturers with the Barden precision ball bearing line directly competing in miniature and instrument ball bearings, airframe control bearings, and aerospace precision bearings. The Barden brand is the most direct head-to-head competitor to NHBB's precision bearing portfolio.
• RBC Bearings: RBC Bearings is a leading US-based manufacturer of highly engineered precision bearings and complex assemblies for aerospace, defense, and industrial markets, with a comparable product portfolio of ball, roller, plain, and rod end bearings serving overlapping customers such as Boeing, Airbus, and tier-1 aerospace subsystem manufacturers.
• Aurora Bearing: Aurora Bearing is a US-based manufacturer of rod end bearings, spherical bearings, and self-lubricating plain bearings serving aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. Aurora is a direct peer to NHBB's Astro Division product line, particularly competing in self-lubricating rod end and spherical bearings.

Emerging players

• CEROBEAR (MinebeaMitsumi): CEROBEAR is a German manufacturer of ceramic bearings acquired by MinebeaMitsumi in 2013 and integrated into the MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace brand alongside NHBB. As a sister company under the same parent, CEROBEAR competes in adjacent ceramic bearing categories and serves as a sibling brand rather than a true independent competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nhballbearingsinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nhbb

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Hampshire Ball Bearings