Celebrating 30 Years of 
BearingNet and PICARD: 
A Legacy of Connection
Honouring a partnership that has shaped the global bearing 
market through innovation and collaboration. The PICARD 
team takes us on a journey down memory lane...
Exchange’ inventory lists, also coming 
up with the idea for the User Meetings. 
Some meetings stand out, Las Vegas, for 
example, with its unique setting at the 
Plaza Hotel & Casino. 
“Looking back, the most significant 
benefit we have gained from BearingNet 
is the comprehensive market overview it 
provides. Today, I particularly appreciate 
the invaluable opportunity to reconnect 
with long-standing acquaintances, many 
of whom have become friends beyond the 
scope of business.”
Hans-Martin Reinhardt, CEO
In 2026, BearingNet celebrates its 30th 
anniversary, marking three decades of 
connecting the global bearing trade and 
enabling distributors to discover new 
customers and sourcing opportunities. 
At Friedrich PICARD GmbH & Co. KG, we 
have been part of this network from the 
very beginning.
Over these three decades, the industry 
has become faster and more transparent. 
BearingNet evolved from early inventory 
sharing into a platform for visibility 
and international exchange. For many 
companies, including PICARD, it became 
a practical way to stay connected to the 
market and to each other.
For PICARD, the real value of BearingNet 
has always been more than listings and 
quotations, it’s the people behind them. 
The User Meetings are where online 
contact turns into real conversation: you 
swap market updates, exchange ideas, 
and strengthen relationships in a way 
that’s hard to replicate digitally. A few 
PICARD colleagues share what those 
moments have meant to them over  
the years:
“My first BearingNet User Meeting was 
in Vienna in 1999. At that time, John 
Bass was developing BearingNet as a 
digital evolution of the printed ‘Bearing 
“My first BearingNet User Meeting was 
Berlin 2023. The atmosphere was intense, 
so many new faces, so much energy. But 
by the second event, you already feel part 
of the community. What makes these 
meetings special is the mix of packed 
agendas and spontaneous conversations: 
you might start the day with back-to-back 
meetings and end it with a relaxed chat 
at the hotel bar, suddenly realising you’ve 
made a new connection that will last. For 
me, the User Meetings are the heart of the 
BearingNet experience. 
“A personal highlight for me was 
attending an NBA game in Washington 
in 2025 with other participants of the 
User Meeting. It was an unforgettable 
experience that made the event even 
more memorable.” 
Prunelle Soum, Head of Sales 
“Orlando 2023 was my first BearingNet 
User Meeting, and it immediately showed 
me how much stronger relationships 
become when you finally meet face 
to face. Every event brings new 
developments, but the real highlight is 
reconnecting with customers you usually 
only know from calls or emails. Personal 
interactions, particularly those occurring 
during side events, foster trust and 
frequently result in enduring partnerships. 
“For me, the value of BearingNet goes far 
beyond the official program.”
Alejandra Reyes, Team Manager Sales
The PICARD team at their Premium stand,  
BearingNet Warsaw User Meeting, March 2026
Budapest User 
Meeting, 2008
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