A Brief History of New Hampshire Ball Bearings

Founded in 1946, NHBB is turning 75 in 2021. 

The First Forty Years

The year 2021 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of New Hampshire Ball Bearings and its 36th as a MinebeaMitsumi subsidiary. In 1946, New Hampshire Ball Bearings, Inc. was started in Peterborough, NH by Arthur N. Daniels and Pierre Wentworth, who set out to bring the production of miniature precision ball bearings into the, “modern era.”

Daniels and Wentworth believed that a “micro” ball bearing could be fully ground and, as such, would deliver significant performance advantages over existing products. As the pioneers in fully ground miniature ball bearings, the two entrepreneurs had set the stage for steady growth and profitability for years to come.

The business grew rapidly from the start and, to keep up with demand, NHBB expanded its manufacturing operations twice in the first ten years alone. In 1956, NHBB broke ground on a new manufacturing plant on a parcel of land south of the village. Today, this location in Peterborough serves as NHBB’s headquarters and manufacturing operations of the HiTech Division.

Acquisitions made it possible for the company to diversify into new product niches and new markets. In 1964, NHBB acquired the Astro Bearing Company, a manufacturer of rod end and spherical bearing products. Originally located in Los Angeles, California, NHBB relocated Astro to Laconia, NH in the early ‘70s in order to expand its operations.

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Original Building in Peterborough, NH.

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Arthur Daniels

The Acquisition by MinebeaMitsumi

After operating as an independent company for nearly forty years, NHBB was acquired by MinebeaMitsumi in 1985. MinebeaMitsumi’s investment in NHBB has risen to over $300 million since the acquisition, which has spurred renewed growth through the development of new products and the adoption of more advanced manufacturing capabilities.

One of the most significant investments was in the HiTech Division and the manufacture of cylindrical roller bearings for aero engines, which is perhaps the most successful product launch in the company’s history. NHBB’s Precision Division has leveraged investments by MinebeaMitsumi to solidify its reputation as the highest performing supplier of precision miniature and instrument ball bearings in North America.

The Astro Division has utilized investments by MinebeaMitsumi to implement advanced machining technology and production processes and assume a leadership role within the company as a practitioner of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement. Investment in NHBB’s new product development capabilities led to the establishment of the New Product Development Center (NPDC) in 2011. Since then, NPDC has developed and launched several new products and built a platform for supporting the new product development needs of customers in the aero engine, landing gear, and helicopter rotor systems markets.

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Second location in downtown Peterborough, NH.

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NHBB Astro Division, Laconia, NH.

The Past Decade

In the past ten years, MinebeaMitsumi and NHBB have collaborated on the acquisition of two specialized bearing manufacturers and a premium contract manufacturing business. The two bearing manufacturers are myonic GmbH (2009), a precision miniature bearing manufacturer, and CEROBEAR GmbH, a leading innovator in the development and production of hybrid- and all-ceramic precision ball and roller bearings. Both companies are technology leaders in their respective markets and they add significant value to NHBB’s customers through their complementary product offerings.

MinebeaMitsumi acquired the contract manufacturing firm, C&A Tool, in 2017 and placed it in the same Business Unit as NHBB, so the companies could work together to expand business opportunities. Located in Churubusco, Indiana, C&A provides customized solutions – from design and planning to fabrication and final inspection – on behalf of leading OEMs in the aerospace, medical, transportation, and many other high tech industrial markets.

New Hampshire Ball Bearings has come a long way since its humble beginnings. Today, NHBB is a leading manufacturer of precision bearings and complex bearing assemblies for the aerospace, defense, medical, dental, and high technology markets. NHBB's diverse product mix includes precision miniature and instrument ball bearings, large ball and roller bearings for aircraft engines, and specialized rod end and spherical bearings for diverse aircraft applications. The company operates three manufacturing facilities in the US and employs over 1,500 workers.

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NHBB Precision Division in Chatsworth, CA.

Looking to the Future 

In 2019, NHBB joined forces with sister companies from around the world to form a global sales and marketing brand called MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace. Currently, there are seven distinctive and highly respected bearing and machined components brands that fall under this brand umbrella. They include Mach AeroNHBBC&A ToolCEROBEARmyonicNMB-Minebea UK, and MinebeaMitsumi. The Group has formed a team of highly trained sales professionals who now have global account responsibilities and a platform from which to market the distinct competencies of each MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace company. This global, go-to-market strategy will enable MinebeaMitsumi and its aerospace subsidiaries to foster a tighter integration of the Group’s global production capabilities with the emergent needs of key aerospace customers.