Leading supplier Bearings International (BI) has announced a name and logo change for a major automotive and industrial brand that it has held the sole agency for since the 1960s. Koyo bearing manufacturer JTEKT has decided to unify all its brands under the company name. “It is a leading Japanese manufacturer that competes with the best European brands,” says Product Development Leader Matthew Tyler.

“This step is intended to guarantee a unified market presence for the global OEM. It is only a change in the brand and logo and remains the same company with the same factories and quality products worldwide, now unified under the JTEKT name,” explains Tyler.

A transition in terms of packaging and part markings is anticipated, whereby stock under both the Koyo and JTEKT name will be available for a certain period. However, the products will be identical and genuine, assures Marchant Taylor, Business Unit Leader for Bearings. “Our customers can have peace of mind that the transition will not have any effect at all on the end products they are supplied with.”

JTEKT was established in 2006 by the merger of Koyo Seiko and Toyoda Machine Works, comprising three different brands: JTEKT (automotive components), Koyo (bearings) and TOYODA (machine tools). The rebranding is expected to unlock new synergies for the Japanese manufacturer and position it for future growth globally.

Taylor highlights that a full range is available, from ball to spherical roller bearings and also specialised bearings for the steel, mining, and automotive industries. JTEKT bearings can even be found in wind turbines in the renewable energy sector and are used by well-known global players such as Toyota and Komatsu.

In terms of back-up and support, BI has product development leaders who can provide expert advice and information for customer-specific applications. An engineering department can assist with design and product selection, while the field service department carries out the fitment on-site. “We also have the full resources of JTEKT at our disposal, which continues to give us a leading edge in the local market,” concludes Tyler.