Founded in Osaka, Japan in 1921, Koyo has become the worlds third largest producer of bearings with 16 manufacturing sites and 53 offices in 18 countries. Their 1996 worldwide sales exceeded ?¨º1,630 million and much of this revenue is derived from their strength in the automotive field. Their primary product strengths include ball and taper roller bearings, needle roller bearings, water pump spindle bearings, clutch release bearings, miniature bearings and hub units with ABS sensors. After careful consideration, Koyo has decided to change many common sizes of spherical roller bearings, from bronze to a steel retainer. The advantages to making this change includes increased load capacity and improved availability. Bearings play a key role in the operation of virtually all types of machines. As an integrated bearings maker, Koyo designs and manufactures all types, from miniature bearings one millimeter in diameter to bearings over seven meters in diameter Whether your application requirement is Automotive OEM, Automotive & Heavy Duty Aftermarket, Industrial OE or Industrial Aftermarket, Koyo can fulfill your bearing requirement. And, if you happen to be challenged by that difficult, demanding application, Koyo can provide you with Hybrid ceramic ball bearings, Extreme Special Environment bearings and or a variety of specialty coatings such as PTFE or Clean Pro bearings.