RBI Bearing (USA, a division of R.B.International; website) announced it has brought a new bearing manufacturing plant online.

Located in Wuxi, China, Wuxi R.B. Precision Bearing Co. Ltd. consolidates two existing RBI ball bearing factories -- one in Wuxi and one in Chengdu.

The new plant is wholly owned by RBI Bearing and employs nearly 500 workers -- 450 in manufacturing and 40 engineers. It is fully ISO9001-2000 certified.

RBI's Wuxi plant manufactures a product line of more than 500 different ball bearings meeting the Z3 vibration noise standard -- 70% of which also meet the strictest Z4 standard.

RBI manufactures bearings in plastic, 52100 steel, and 440C stainless with a variety of retainer, seal, set screw, assembly, and other options. Balls can be steel or silicon nitride. Outers can be spherical or cylindrical with a variety of finishes, chamfers and fitups.

The company also has warehouse, sales and support operations in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Brazil, and Japan.