Gebruder Reinfurt GmbH Co. KG (Germany, privately held; website) has been acquired by NIBC Capital Partners (website), a private equity investment firm.

Founded in 1942 with headquarters in Wurzburg, Gebruder Reinfurt manufactures and sells high precision miniature ball bearings under the GRW brand.

Capabilities are ABEC1 to ABEC9 in 1 to 17mm ID and 3 to 40mm OD, metric or inch dimension sizes. The product line includes separable and non-separable angular contact ball bearings, spindle ball bearings, duplex, 52100, stainless, hybrid ceramic and full ceramic bearings.

They also manufacture inline skate bearings and hobby bearings for "simple" things like scale model jet turbines turning at 120,000 RPM.

In addition to Wurzburg proper, GRW has production facilities 5km away in Rimpar. A third plant, in Prachatice, Czech Republic, is primarily an assembly operation. A wholly-owned distribution business, Ingmar Industrierzeugnissse GmbH, is located at Rimpar.

In all, GRW employs nearly 500 people.

Based in The Hague and Frankfurt, NIBC is a private equity investment firm, focused on mid-market companies in Northwest Europe. NIBC Capital Partners invests in growth and replacement opportunities to support the company's strategy and/or growth via investments ranging from equity involvement to mezzanine financing, or a combination. NIBC said it works to build effective partnerships, leveraging the network, operating partners and its own sector expertise.

GRW will continue to operate as an independent entity under NIBC, and the key management team will stay in place, headed by CRO Peter Fritz.

NIBC said: "The transaction marks a seamless succession from family structures and secures a solid foundation for continued growth and international expansion. NIBC Capital Partners is excited to be embarking on this next chapter of the GRW story, further fostering the attractive business and workforce."