A Legacy of Precision, Trust, and Leadership in Bearings

For over 40 years, Knowell International has stood as one of India’s most trusted names in bearing distribution—a brand synonymous with authenticity, technical expertise, and unwavering customer commitment. What began as a trading-driven business in 1984 has matured into a value-added distribution powerhouse, representing global engineering leaders such as Nachi, FYH, KHK, NMB, and ISC.

Today, as India’s manufacturing sector undergoes rapid transformation driven by automation, EV mobility, robotics, clean energy, and Industry 4.0 technologies, Knowell is playing an increasingly strategic role in elevating bearing performance, reliability, and application engineering across industries.

With a nationwide network of 60+ dealers, a newly inaugurated 40,000 sq ft warehouse, and a strong foundation built on quality, customer-first ethics, and technical advisory strength, Knowell is enabling OEMs and industries to make smarter, more informed decisions. At a time when purity of steel, microcleanliness, speed tolerance, lubrication precision, and counterfeit mitigation are redefining engineering priorities, Knowell is uniquely positioned at the intersection of global innovation and India’s on-ground industrial realities.

As it embraces digitalization, expands capabilities, and strengthens its global collaborations, Knowell International is gearing up not just to meet the future—but to help shape it, discovers Bearing Review in an exclusive interview with the company top brass. Excerpts:

Q1. Knowell International has been a trusted name in bearing distribution for over four decades. How has the company evolved during this journey, and what core values have remained unchanged in shaping its identity?

Since its inception in 1984, Knowell International has evolved from a conventional trading business into one of India’s most respected bearing distribution companies with deep technical capabilities, nationwide presence, and partnerships with leading Japanese and global brands. As India’s manufacturing ecosystem has matured, Knowell has evolved from a traditional bearing distribution company into a value-added distribution one—technical selection support, application guidance, and high-precision inventory planning.

Today, Knowell plays a strategic role for several OEMs, supporting transitions in automation, sustainability, and efficiency-driven manufacturing.

Through this evolution, the company’s core values have remained unchanged: quality without compromise, customer-first service, and long-term relationships. These values always guide our decision-making—from the brands Knowell partners with, to the investments made in infrastructure, training, and technology.

Our commitment to authenticity, technical expertise, and ethical business practices has built trust among our customers across various industries in India. As the manufacturing landscape of India advances into new avenues, these foundational principles continue to shape Knowell’s identity as a dependable, forward-looking partner.

Q2. As authorised distributors for global brands like Nachi, FYH, KHK, and ISC, what does Knowell look for in a global partner, and how do these collaborations strengthen India’s industrial ecosystem?

Knowell selects global partners based on three essential criteria: technical excellence, manufacturing reliability, and a strong commitment to R&D. All our brands – Nachi, FYH, KHK, NMB, IJK, Samick, RHB and ISC have a proven legacy of engineering innovation—whether in steel quality, heat treatment, sealing technology, or miniature precision.

We at Knowell work with companies that believe in quality consistency and reliability and are constantly investing in next-generation technologies to provide high-performance bearings to its customers.
While bearings may be a small part of India’s industrial ecosystem, a good quality range of bearings can not only help improve machine quality life but also increase overall efficiency.

This is where our collaborations help strengthen India’s industrial ecosystem. Each of our brands adhere to strict standards. That, along with their manufacturing prowess, precision, advanced technological focus and investments in R&D help our customers increase their overall efficiency by reducing costs overtime while increasing their productivity.

Additionally, Knowell’s ability to communicate on-ground insights back to its partners helps influence product development tailored for Indian conditions—dust-heavy environments, high-temperature operations, and cost-sensitive segments. The result is a strong, two-way collaboration that uplifts quality, productivity, and reliability across Indian manufacturing.

Q3. The bearing industry is witnessing rapid transformation with automation, EV mobility, and smart manufacturing. How is Knowell aligning with these shifts to meet the next-generation needs of OEMs and critical industries?

The transformation toward EV drivetrains, robotics, and Industry 4.0 has definitely reshaped bearing requirements – applications have advanced, machines have evolved which means bearing design and functionalities have also progressed to provide customers with more efficiency.

We at Knowell are aligning closely with these shifts by expanding our product mix, strengthening technical competency, and working with brands that are leading innovation for next-generation industries.

As an example, Nachi’s high-precision spherical roller bearings, NMB’s miniature bearings, FYH’s advanced spherical roller units provide customers with unique and high quality solutions to problems that affect sectors that are not only operating in harsh conditions but also rapidly transforming due to the advent of advanced technology.

Along with this, Knowell is also strengthening its advisory role—training its internal teams on understanding new manufacturing techniques and the bearing challenges (high speeds, electrical corrosion, lubrication instability) that come with it, supporting OEM design teams, and offering application-based recommendations.

Additionally we are constantly improving our own internal processes through digital transformations to improve our forecasting, inventory planning and service management to ensure we can cater to our customers to the best of our abilities. Knowell is positioning itself as a strategic partner for OEMs building India’s next-generation industrial landscape.

Q4. With a strong network of 60+ dealers and an extensive inventory strategy, what are the key elements behind Knowell’s ability to deliver timely, reliable, and technically correct solutions across India?

Knowell’s ability to serve customers quickly and accurately is powered by three pillars: a strong distribution network, data-driven inventory management, and deep technical knowledge. With 60+ dealers across India, we strive to maintain a strong local presence that allows us to understand industrial needs at a regional level.

Inventory planning is a highly strategic segment for us. We stock a vast range across sizes, applications, and load categories, based on demand forecasting, usage patterns, and market requirements.

This ensures customers receive the right bearing at the right time—reducing their downtime and procurement delays.
Technical knowhow is equally important for us. Knowell’s team is trained continuously ensuring the right bearing is selected for the right application—considering load, speed, misalignment, environment, and lubrication.

Together, these factors enable Knowell to deliver swift, accurate solutions—backed by strong after-sales support and technical guidance—helping customers maintain smooth operations.

Q5. Bearing performance today depends heavily on steel purity, microcleanliness, precision manufacturing, and application engineering. How does Knowell help customers navigate these technical nuances to select the right solution?

There are so many factors that closely affect a bearing’s performance and life– the quality of material used, the design and manufacturing precision and so on. Most end users cannot easily evaluate these nuances, which is where Knowell plays a crucial role.

First, at Knowell we work closely with our customers to understand their requirements – exact load conditions, speeds, environmental factors, and expected life cycles. This ensures the technical recommendation is application-driven rather than only catalogue-based.

Second, Knowell’s global supply partners provide us with products that are made from high-quality materials with precision mechanisms. We help our customers understand why aspects like high quality steel, heat treatment and precision matter in providing longer bearing life, reduced failure rates, consistent performance, and lower lifecycle costs.

Third, Knowell educates customers on common misconceptions— wrong mounting practices, incorrect sealing choices, lubrication errors, etc—which often cause premature failures.
By combining technical training, diagnostic insight, and product expertise, Knowell empowers customers to make informed decisions, ensuring optimal bearing performance and long-term reliability.

Q6. You cater to a diverse range of sectors—from automotive and railways to robotics, food processing, and precision manufacturing. Which segments are showing the strongest growth, and how is Knowell gearing up for these opportunities?

With India’s economic trajectory, through the strong government initiatives like “Make in India” and progressive manufacturing focus, there are so many sectors and industries that are showing a strong growth and potential.

While traditional industries like steel, cement, machine tools, agriculture, textile etc are showing growth, new avenues related to automation, robotics and clean energy are also showing immense potential.

As India fully recognizes and hones its manufacturing capabilities, we at Knowell are carefully gearing up to ensure we can service as much of this boost as possible. We are consistently increasing our product portfolio to become a one-stop-shop for all bearing needs from miniature bearings to large sized bearings.2025 has also been a big year for us wherein we inaugurated our 40,000 sq ft warehouse facility near Kolkata which not only increases our stocking capabilities but also enables us to supply our customers faster which in turn helps to reduce their downtime and increase overall productivity.

Knowell is also strengthening collaborations with our brands to bring cutting-edge bearing solutions to the Indian market. Parallelly, we are investing in technical training for our team to understand and support OEMs as they transition into EV, solar, and automated manufacturing ecosystems.

Q7. Digitalization is reshaping customer expectations in terms of responsiveness, traceability, and technical support. What steps is Knowell taking to integrate technology into its service and distribution model?

Digital adoption is central to Knowell’s long-term transformation strategy. Internally, the company leverages data analytics for demand forecasting, inventory accuracy, and trend mapping—ensuring better availability and reduced delivery lead times. Digitization has helped us in planning stock levels, track supply chain movement, and improve responsiveness.
Externally, digitalization can be used to enhance customer experience.

Knowell is working towards improved digital touchpoints for inquiries, technical support, and communication. Customers increasingly expect quick responses, transparent traceability, and documentation support, and we are working on strengthening our digital ecosystem to meet those expectations.

The new warehouse will also incorporate enhanced digital tools for stock management, barcode systems, and automated material handling to improve efficiency. Over time, our vision is that digitalization will enable data-backed technical insights, quicker service, and seamless coordination with our customers—making Knowell’s distribution model future-ready.

Q8. The counterfeit bearing market continues to challenge the industry. As an authorised distributor of genuine bearings, how is Knowell protecting customers from fake products and raising industry awareness?

Counterfeit bearings have been a long standing problem, especially in a market like India, and poses some serious risks—premature equipment failure, safety hazards, and significant maintenance losses.
As an authorized distributor, Knowell is trying its level best to protect its customers from the ills of counterfeit bearings. The company ensures product authenticity through direct sourcing from manufacturers, secure and marked packaging, and traceable supply chain systems.

Knowell educates its customers on identifying genuine products—explaining differences in QR codes, laser markings, batch numbers, and packaging features. Additionally, its strong dealer network helps create a controlled ecosystem where only verified, legitimate bearings reach our end users.By advocating for responsible sourcing and highlighting the dangers of fake products, Knowell is trying to actively help elevate industry buying standards across India.

Q9. Sustainability, energy efficiency, and reliability have become dominant engineering priorities. How are global innovations in bearing design translating into benefits for Indian industries through Knowell?

Bearing manufacturers worldwide are innovating around three themes: sustainability, energy efficiency, and maintenance reduction. New technologies—ceramic rolling elements, advanced surface coatings, optimized cage geometries, low-friction seals, and smarter lubrication systems—are helping industries reduce energy consumption, increase equipment life, and minimize downtime.

Through our strategic partnerships, we at Knowell bring these innovations directly to our customers in the Indian market. For example, Nachi’s advancements in steel purity and SRB geometry help heavy industries operate with higher reliability. NMB’s miniature and ceramic hybrid bearings enable robotics and EV motors to achieve higher speeds and lower noise.

FYH’s advanced sealing systems allow equipment to thrive in dusty or washdown-heavy environments common in Indian conditions.
By bridging global R&D with local applications, Knowell ensures Indian manufacturers benefit from world-class efficiency, longer asset life, and reduced operational costs—strengthening their global competitiveness.

Q10. Looking ahead, what is your strategic vision for Knowell International in the next decade? Are there plans for expansion, diversification, digital initiatives, or new partnerships that our readers should watch out for?

Knowell’s vision for the next decade is centred on efficient customer service, modernization, and deeper technical engagement. With a focus on growth, we plan to significantly expand our inventory and distribution capability— with our newest warehouse space being a start to support faster, more specialized stocking.

We see digital transformation playing a major role, with initiatives focused on improving customer responsiveness, and internal processes to service our customer better. Knowell also aims to continue strengthening its training programs, enabling its team to support next-generation industries. We are always looking for opportunities to learn, grow, expand our horizon and service new avenues that can benefit from our offerings.

Therefore, expansion into newer industrial clusters and deeper presence in OEM segments is also a key part of the long-term plan.
Overall, Knowell intends to remain India’s most trusted bearing partner—combining global technology, strong service ethics, and future-ready capabilities.