As part of automotive consumable products supplier Hudaco Group, Bearings International (BI) is able to leverage synergies across a broad range of companies, meaning it can offer a complete product basket across its branch network nationally.

As part of automotive consumable products supplier Hudaco Group, Bearings International (BI) is able to leverage synergies across a broad range of companies, meaning it can offer a complete product basket across its branch network nationally.

In order to maximise this leverage across diverse industries, BI has successfully implemented a new business development leader (BDL) management structure, with a dedicated and focused approach to the core market segments of mining, agriculture, sugar, original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs), steel, fast-moving consumer goods, automotive, services and infrastructure, wholesale and retail, cement, pulp and paper and chemicals.

In addition, BI has appointed Victor Strobel as offer marketing manager, reporting directly to the BI business unit head at the Parkhaven head office in Gauteng. Strobel oversees the product management team with the goal of consolidating marketing efforts for profitable growth.

He explains that BI’s approach is to target existing and potential customers at grassroots level.

“The BDL team, on the other hand, will look specifically at nurturing cooperative relationships with all relevant internal and external stakeholders,” he adds.

From bearings to variable-speed drives (VSDs), motors, gearboxes, sprockets and chains, BI offers total solutions for a diverse range of customers, applications and industries. Tier 1 automotive OEM applications, for example, are serviced from BI’s warehouse in Parkhaven, which also features a bonded store facility.

An example of the diversification into ancillary products is adding electronic motor control solutions from Varispeed to the extensive offering. Varispeed has just launched its VDrivePlus and AlphaDrive-Micro VSDs onto the market.

The Varispeed VSDs are supplemented by the geared motor solutions provider Bauer electric motor range from BI.

“For BI, it is all about the breadth of our product offering, which extends far beyond our customers’ core focus. This is because we look at customer requirements holistically, which is a great way to introduce our customer base to the larger Hudaco Group.”

While the customer bases are different, there are definite synergies that the company can tap into.

“It is all about positioning ourselves as a total solutions provider that is a single point of contact for all customer needs, as well as making them aware of everything else we are able to offer. “This is where BI’s focus on customer service and support is critical, as we are able to back up all of our products with the necessary technical expertise and experience,” Strobel concludes.