New Hampshire Ball Bearings, Inc. (NHBB) is turning 75 in 2021. This year is also the company’s 36th as a member of the MinebeaMitsumi Group.
In 1946, inside a small workshop located in the village of Peterborough, NH, the founders of NHBB began manufacturing fully ground miniature ball bearings for defense and aerospace customers, and later, for the emerging computer industry. Over time, the budding young company steadily grew its manufacturing capabilities to provide a broad range of high-precision solutions for a wide range of high-performance applications. NHBB’s custom-engineered products eventually found their way into aero engines, airframe control actuation assemblies, landing gear, helicopter rotor systems, space/satellite applications, UAVs, missile systems, medical/dental devices, and more.
Today, NHBB operates three domestic manufacturing divisions, employs over 1,400 workers, and supports a customer base that spans the globe. Responding to customer needs continues to be a key driver of NHBB’s growth. The company maintains a constant focus on partnering with customers on new product development and testing projects, which has led to industry-changing innovations.
“NHBB is proud of its rich history, which began as an independent start-up company and now continues as a thriving subsidiary of the MinebeaMitsumi Group, all while remaining a vital source of employment for the communities in which we operate,” said Dan Lemieux, President of NHBB. “Dedicated and skilled employees are the foundation of the company’s success, and we look forward to our continued growth in the decades to come as a trusted supplier to our customers in the markets we serve.”
NHBB was acquired in 1985 by MinebeaMitsumi (formerly Minebea), a multinational conglomerate based in Japan, which manufactures machined components, electronic devices and components, and Electro Mechanics Solutions® for a broad range of high tech, industrial, and consumer markets. MinebeaMitsumi’s ongoing investments in NHBB have spurred continued growth by developing new products and adopting more advanced manufacturing capabilities.
NHBB became a part of a newly established brand, MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace, which was launched by MinebeaMitsumi in 2019 to bring about a tighter integration of its global production capabilities with key aerospace customers’ needs. A team of highly trained sales professionals, who have global account responsibilities, leverages the MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace brand to promote the collective capabilities and distinctive competencies of NHBB and its affiliated businesses.
Read a more detailed history by visiting NHBB's website.