1883 – FAG begins grinding balls of equal size and roundness forming the creation of an independent bearing industry.

1898 – First patent issued for Timken Tapered roller bearings.

1907 – Sven Wingquist of SKF invents the modern self-aligning ball bearing.

Tapered bearing

Apollo 11

1969 –Three astronauts in a North American Rockwell "Apollo" spacecraft are launched by North American Rockwell rocket engines toward the moon.

1970 – Intel invents the microprocessor and consistent precision control of machine tools impacting both size and life of bearings.

1980s – Torrington bearings are used in the space shuttle and robot arm to launch and retrieve satellites in orbit.

1992 – ABMA celebrates its 75th anniversary.

1993 – ABMA officially changes its name from the AFBMA (Anti-Friction Bearing Manufacturers Association).

1993 – Leading bearing manufacturers from throughout the world meet for the first time in Key Largo, Florida.

2001 – The Schaeffler Group (INA) acquires FAG.

2002 – Timken Company acquires Torrington Company impacting the global bearing market with a variety of bearing products including tapered roller bearings, needle roller bearings and alloy steels.

2006 – ABMA partners with the American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) for Joint Meeting in Tucson, AZ.

2006 – ABMA, the Japanese Bearing Industrial Association (JBIA) and the Federation of European Bearing Manufacturers Association (FEBMA) create the World Bearing Association (WBA) to focus on issues affecting the global bearing industry.

Shuttle Atlantis
carrying Galileo Spacecraft
in 1989.