Where in the BearingNet was founded in 1996, and the numbers 30 years on show the significant growth of the community all over the world. S o u t h A m e r i c a N o r t h A m e r i c a E u r o p e A s i a A f r i c a O c e a n i a companies 1,344 1,344 countries 35 35 of the BearingNet community 44% 44% companies 275 275 countries 9 of the BearingNet community 11% 11% companies 69 69 countries 8 of the BearingNet community 10% 10% companies 269 269 countries 23 23 of the BearingNet community 29% 29% companies 19 19 countries 2 of the BearingNet community 2% 2% companies 43 43 countries 3 of the BearingNet community 4% 4% The statistics below show the growing numbers as of May 2026. The BearingNet community now consists of more than 2,000 global bearing & power transmission distributor and manufacturer members spanning six continents. The members list names more than 80 countries, and we are seeing new countries from emerging continents join every year, allowing members to reach further worldwide. 1996 2006 2016 2026 0-50 members 0-50 members 1,068 members 1,068 members 1,974 members 1,974 members 2,019 members 2,019 members As you can see above, the BearingNet community has continued to grow over the past three decades, starting with only a handful of members in 1996 when John Bass, Peter Annis, and Gary Jenkins turned a paper-based inventory sharing magazine digital. The next 10 years saw momentous growth, with over 1,000 members using the unique online tool to increase their presence globally. A further 10 years passed and BearingNet reached 1,974 platform members by 2016. By this point, BearingNet could say it had many of the key players in the bearing and power transmission industry as members. As the platform matured and became more established within the industry, growth naturally became steadier. The market is now far more saturated than it was in BearingNet’s earlier years, and the industry itself has also changed, with mergers, acquisitions and rising operational costs leading some companies to consolidate or leave the market altogether. Despite this, BearingNet continues to see new companies joining each year and remains a vital tool for the industry. Now, in 2026, the year we celebrate our 30th birthday, BearingNet has over 2,000 members and counting. More importantly, activity across the platform is stronger than ever, with searches, enquiries and connections continuing to grow. Today, the community spans more than 80 countries, helping members network, trade and build relationships with ease.
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