By Merivict Murillo

Tires and Parts Magazine

Mineral Circles Bearings (MCB) continues to keep ahead of the competition with the recent acquisition of the SNR brand distributorship in the UAE—a huge milestone in reinforcing its local supply chain as part of its diversification strategy this year.

Michel Peltier, NTN-SNR’s Middle East Sales Manager, revealed that MCB has been selected as SNR distributor due to its professionalism, good market reputation and its capacity to handle a good stock level that suits the region’s needs. He pointed out that since SNR is a premium bearing brand in both the industry and automotive segment, it must be represented by high level distributors to meet the needs of the existing markets as well as the budding ones.

As the only automotive SNR distributor in the UAE, Hassanein Alwan, MCB’s Marketing Director, said that the company’s new venture is in preparation for the growing local demand in the automotive industry wherein up to six million cars are projected to be in the country’s roads in the next few years brought about by Expo 2020.

Alwan mentioned that their targets are to get a huge local market share and to present to their clients the SNR kits, a pioneering business line for MCB, which they believe would be the future of the region’s bearing industry. According to him, Automechanika Dubai is the best to unveil these developments due to the immense turnout of high profile exhibitors and different visitors.

As part of its goal for global footprint expansion, MCB has acquired SNR and NTN brand dealership in African countries, including Angola, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Libya and Sudan late last year.

Alwan concluded that Africa is eyed as a continent of great possibilities, with a forecasted 100 percent increase in population by 2030. “We expect a fundamental long term demand in NTN and SNR bearings because they are produced by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), making them widely accepted in the industry. Because of MCB’s proximity and stock availability, we foresee not just sustainable profitability for us but infinite and immediate service to our customers,” he added.

The ongoing growth of MCB with NTN-SNR is a strong driver of consumer and investor confidence with an anticipated huge sales impact within the UAE as well as in the MENA region.