GTW

What GTW does

GTW is a privately held Czech-German engineering company founded in 1996 in Příšov, North Region Pilsen, Czech Republic. It designs, manufactures, and repairs hydrodynamic white metal-lined sliding bearings and bearing systems for high-speed, high-load turbomachinery applications. The company operates through two legal entities: GTW BEARINGS s.r.o. (production) and GTW TECHNIK s.r.o. (sales and trading for Czech and Slovak Republics), with more than 130 employees across four production halls at Příšov and a new 1,100 m² production hall at Chotíkov opened in 2023.

The company's core product portfolio includes fixed profile journal bearings (up to 1,600 mm diameter), tilting pad journal bearings (shaft diameters 30-500 mm), tilting pad thrust bearings, self-equalizing thrust bearings, modular bearing systems (Series W) in pedestal, flange, vertical, and mill configurations, electrically insulated bearings for turbogenerators, planet-gear bolts, and various thrust pad types. Manufacturing processes include white metal casting and lining, CNC machining, and laser cladding (introduced 2023). Design is supported by proprietary COMBROS bearing calculation software covering stiffness, damping, power loss, temperature distribution, and minimal oil film thickness, with product validation performed on an in-house journal and thrust bearing test rig (pinion speeds up to 40,380 rpm and 20,190 rpm respectively, loads up to 50 kN).

GTW operates a direct B2B sales model targeting market-leading industrial engineering companies in power generation, gearbox manufacturing, oil & gas compression, and engine production across Europe, Asia, and increasingly the USA and Western Europe. The customer roster includes Siemens Energy, Voith, MAN, GE, Doosan Škoda Power, Flender Graffenstaden, Wikov Gear, Maag Gear, Atlas Copco/Brush, RENK, Howden, and others — approximately 50 industrial companies globally. The company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications, is a member of the German Research Association for Combustion Engines (FVV), and participates in the National Centre of Competence for Mechanical Engineering (NCKS) and Horizon Europe PROSPECTS 5.0 consortium projects. Revenue is generated primarily through custom bearing design-and-build contracts (one-time equipment sales) with an additional aftermarket stream for repaired, refurbished, and spare-part bearings. Pricing is contact-based and not publicly disclosed.

Name

GTW

Legal name

GTW BEARINGS s.r.o.

Website

https://gtw.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

GTW is a Czech-German private engineering company that designs, manufactures, and repairs hydrodynamic white metal-lined sliding bearings and bearing systems for high-speed turbomachinery applications, supplying major industrial OEMs including Siemens Energy, Voith, MAN, and GE across Europe and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Bearings

NAICS

Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing (332991), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612)

SIC

Ball & Roller Bearings (3562), Engines & Turbines (3510)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMABANAB

Aerospace Bearings, Bushings & Motion Components

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing/Aerospace Materials and Components

SECONDARYIMAHANAG

Pump & Compressor Packages (Skids, Booster Sets)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Industrial Machinery & Heavy Equipment/Pumps & Compressors (Fluid & Gas Handling)

Keywords

• Hydrodynamic sliding bearings
• White metal bearings
• Tilting pad bearings
• Bearing systems manufacturing
• Industrial bearing repair

Headquarters

HQ city

Tremosna

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Sliding Bearings Manufacturing: Design, development, and production of hydrodynamic white metal-lined sliding bearings and bearing systems according to customer-specific designs or GTW's own designs. Manufacturing follows ISO-certified quality management.
2. Aftermarket and Spare Parts: Sale of new, refurbished, and repaired spare parts and accessories for bearings. Includes remanufacturing of journal bearings and professional repair of damaged bearings.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GTW designs, develops, manufactures, and services hydrodynamic white metal-lined sliding bearings and bearing systems for turbomachinery and industrial rotating equipment. The portfolio spans fixed profile journal bearings (up to 1,600 mm), tilting pad journal and thrust bearings, self-equalizing thrust bearings, modular Series W bearing systems, electrically insulated bearings, planet-gear bolts, and specialised thrust pads, supported by in-house calculation software, a test rig, and laser cladding. Aftermarket offerings include bearing repair, remanufacturing, and spare parts.

Product overview

GTW is a Czech-German company specializing in the design, development, production, and service of hydrodynamic white metal-lined bearings and bearing systems. The product portfolio includes Fixed Profile Journal Bearings (up to 1600 mm diameter), Tilting Pad Journal Bearings (30-500 mm), Tilting Pad Thrust Bearings, and Self-equalizing Thrust Bearings. The modular Bearing Systems (Series W) encompass Pedestal Bearings WP, Centre Flange Bearings WM, Side Flange Bearings WF, Vertical Bearings WV, and specialized Bearings for Mills (WH/WS). Additional offerings include Electrically Insulated Bearings for turbogenerators, Planet-Gear Bolts, and various Thrust Pads (types WK, WA, WD). GTW also provides aftermarket services including bearing repairs, remanufacturing, and spare parts. The company uses specialized COMBROS software for bearing calculations and maintains an in-house testing facility for journal and thrust bearing validation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GTW: Design, development, production and service of hydrodynamic white metal-lined bearings and bearing systems

Products and services

• Fixed Profile Journal Bearings
• Tilting Pad Journal Bearings
• Tilting Pad Thrust Bearings
• Self-equalizing Thrust Bearings
• Bearing Systems (Series W)
• Electrically Insulated Bearings
• Planet-Gear Bolts
• Thrust Pads Type WK
• Thrust Pads Type WA
• Thrust Pads Type WD
• Aftermarket Services
• Bearing Repairs

Quantifiable outcome

• Maximum journal bearing test rig speed: 10,000 rpm (pinion: 40,380 rpm), pitch velocity 150 m/s, max load 7 MPa ~ 25 kN
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Centre of Competence for Mechanical Engineering (NCKS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023GTW participates in the National Centre of Competence for Mechanical Engineering (NCKS), focused on research, development and innovation for increasing competitiveness of Czech mechanical engineering industry. Project TN02000018 funded by TA ČR (2023-2028).
• Wikov Gear s.r.o.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Joint R&D project 'Research and Development of Turbo-Gearbox with a New Type of Journal Tilting Pad Bearings' awarded by TA ČR. GTW collaborated with Wikov Gear, Research and Testing Institute Pilsen, and University of West Bohemia.
• German Research Association for Combustion Engines (FVV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGTW is a member of the German Research Association for Combustion Engines FVV. Through this membership, GTW's R&D department develops new products and validates designs through testing at testing stations in the Czech Republic and abroad.
• Research and Testing Institute Pilsen s.r.o. (Výzkumný a zkušební ústav Plzeň)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in joint project on turbo-gearbox bearing development alongside GTW and University of West Bohemia.
• University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (Západočeská univerzita v Plzni)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner in joint turbo-gearbox R&D project alongside GTW and Research and Testing Institute Pilsen. Also involved in multiple EU-funded R&D projects.
• Horizon Europe PROSPECTS 5.0 ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGTW participates in the Horizon Europe PROSPECTS 5.0 project (HORIZON-CL4-2023-HUMAN-01) supporting the transition to Industry 5.0 in Europe.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Kingsbury Bearings: Kingsbury is a long-established specialist in tilting pad thrust and journal bearings for turbomachinery, directly competing with GTW in the same product category and serving overlapping global turbomachinery OEMs.
• ZOLLERN: ZOLLERN produces hydrodynamic plain bearings, white metal-lined bearings, and bearing systems for industrial applications including rolling mills and turbomachinery, making it a closely comparable European peer to GTW.
• Waukesha Bearings: Waukesha Bearings (Dover Precision Components) designs and manufactures hydrodynamic journal and thrust bearings for turbomachinery — the most direct peer to GTW with overlapping tilting pad bearing product lines and shared customers in power generation and compression.
• RENK Group: RENK is both a customer and a partial competitor, manufacturing special bearings and complete drivetrain systems for military and industrial applications. Comparable in scope of bearing technology and turbomachinery focus.
• Michell Bearings: Michell Bearings specializes in tilting pad bearings for industrial turbomachinery, marine propulsion, and power generation — a direct competitor to GTW in hydrodynamic sliding bearings with comparable product specifications and customer profiles.

Emerging players

• Elliott Group: Elliott designs and manufactures turbomachinery and supplies bearing solutions for compressors and turbo equipment — overlapping with GTW's customer base in oil & gas compression and industrial turbomachinery applications.

Broad incumbents

• SKF: SKF is the world's largest bearing manufacturer with a comprehensive product range including specialty bearings for industrial applications. A broad incumbent that competes with GTW for industrial OEM contracts in adjacent bearing categories.
• Schaeffler (INA): Schaeffler, through its INA brand, is a global bearing manufacturer offering rolling element and plain bearings across all industries. While not specializing in hydrodynamic sliding bearings, it competes in adjacent bearing categories and has far greater scale and resources than GTW.
• Timken: Timken is a global manufacturer of engineered bearings and power transmission products serving industrial, aerospace, and energy markets. While primarily focused on tapered roller bearings, Timken competes with GTW for industrial and turbomachinery bearing business.

Others

• Voith: Voith is a major GTW customer that also manufactures bearings, couplings, and complete drivetrain systems. The relationship is primarily customer/supplier but with technology overlap in hydrodynamic bearing systems for hydro generators and industrial applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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• Instagraminstagram.com/gtw_bearings

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about GTW