Gamet Bearings (UK, a division of 600 Group, UK; website) has seen its sales grow by more than 40% for the third year in a row. Gamet has reportedly been operating at full capacity for over a year.

600 Group is the UK's largest machine tool company, operating as three divisions -- 600 Electrox Lasers, 600 Machine Tools, and 600 Technologies. 600 Technologies is home to Pratt Burnerd International, Crawford Collets, and Gamet Bearings.

Although 600 Group in general is facing challenges which include pension debt restructuring, Gamet Bearings is presented as a bright spot.

Gamet manufactures super-precision tapered roller bearings at its plant in Colchester, UK. Sales are primarily to the machine tool industry. With its product line, Gamet is a highly complimentary operation within the 600 Group.

Sales outside the 600 Group were up 28% from a year ago. 600 Group said Gamet's incremental success comes from ramping up production of large-bore industrial bearings and the continued strength of the high-end machine tool industry, but the majority of the growth is thanks to improved global market penetration.

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Gamet recently ramped up production of large bore industrial bearings, up to 550mm ID and 680mm OD. Target markets for the large bore bearings are precision machine tools, oil and gas industry, grinding and turning machines, printing presses, and steel production.

Bearings are available in sub-micron precision, with ID radial runout within 0.5 microns, and assembled axial runout within 3 microns.

Gerry Shrimpton, Gamet Managing Director, said: "The growth in our business is fundamentally due to the quality of our manufacturing process, which enables us to deliver exceptionally high quality bearings, on schedule, and at a reasonable cost, combined with an aggressive marketing policy. We are winning and retaining business because we try to be very good indeed at what we do."

Gamet has been gaining penetration in its traditionally strong geographic markets -- Germany, India, and Taiwan -- while extending its reach to now include China, Italy, Russia, and Spain.

Related article: Modern Machine Shop in 2006 covered Gamet's production process ...

Modern Machine Shop article on Gamet Bearings