NKE Austria GmbH (Austria; 5251R9N7) said bearing sales for 2009 were up 1%, to €43.8 million (USD $55 million), another record sales year for the company.

The market for wind turbine bearings continued strong, which NKE said was the source of its growth in 2009, and particularly sales into China.

In mid-2009, NKE moved into a new home office and much larger production facility in Steyr, Austria; opened a sales office in Shanghai; was recertified ISO 9001:200 for Quality Management and ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental Management; and achieved OHSAS 18001. Finally, NKE received Austria's Pegasus award, for corporate culture and internationalization. Currently, NKE employs approximately 200 people, up 10% in the past year.

NKE's new facility in Stadtgut Steyr Industrial and Commercial Services Park is the largest consolidated facility in the Park. Offices occupy approximately 3,000 square meters, production floorspace totals approximately 6,000 square meters including assembly, quality control, packaging and logistics. The attached automated high-bay warehouse is 1,600 square meters. Overall, NKE's industrial park property is 22,000 square meters, with the option to add an adjacent parcel of 13,000 square meters.

NKE was founded in 1996 by a group of senior management who split from Steyr Walzlager after its 1992 acquisition by SKF AB. NKE now produces a wide range of industrial bearings. The company performs engineering and product development, outsources components, then does final engineering and assembly at its Steyr plant. Some production work -- hard turning and grinding -- is being added at the new facility. Steyr also centralizes NKE's logistics, sales, and marketing functions. In addition to bearings, NKE offers a range of value-added services and training.

2009 article: Steyr completing new headquarters
Going forward, NKE said it expects to invest at least €2.5 million in R&D, production, and quality management during 2010. NKE's Managing Director, Heimo Ebner, said: "Our aim this year is to develop innovative, flexible solutions for our customer and to further improve quality and reliability. Especially customer service will be optimized to become even more professional and customer-focused."

During 2010, NKE expects to open 5 new sales offices, for a total of 20 worldwide. New offices: another in Asia; and on each in the Middle East, Russia, Central Europe, and Eastern Europe.