International Standardization of Rolling Bearings Demonstrates China's Commitment — Luoyang Bearing Research Institute Co., Ltd. Hosts the 2025 ISO/TC4 Plenary Meeting

From May 12 to 16, 2025, the International Organization for Standardization Rolling Bearing Technical Committee (ISO/TC4) 2025 plenary meeting was successfully held at the International Standardization Conference Base (Center) in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.

Group photo of participating experts

This meeting was hosted by the National Standardization Administration Committee (SAC) and organized by Luoyang Bearing Research Institute Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Bearing Research Institute"). A total of 69 representatives from 11 countries including China, France, Germany, Japan, and Sweden attended the meeting. The Bearing Research Institute organized a Chinese delegation of 30 people from 18 units to participate, with Jiang Wei, Chairman of the National Rolling Bearing Standardization Technical Committee, serving as the delegation leader. Li Jia, Researcher of the Standard Innovation Management Department of the State Administration for Market Regulation, ISO/TC4 Chairman Rosengren Filip, Zhou Yu, Chairman of the China Bearing Industry Association, and Jiang Wei, Chairman of the National Rolling Bearing Standardization Technical Committee, delivered speeches; the speech session was hosted by Li Wenchao, Deputy General Manager and Chief Engineer of Luoyang Bearing Research Institute Co., Ltd.

Speech by Jiang Wei, Chairman of the National Rolling Bearing Standardization Technical Committee

Group photo of the Chinese delegation

"China's Responsibility" on the International Standardization Stage

To actively implement the important instructions of the Party and the state on building a manufacturing power and developing the bearing industry, and to implement the "National Standardization Development Outline," the Bearing Research Institute actively secured the hosting rights of the 2025 ISO/TC4 plenary meeting on behalf of China. After nearly a year of preparation, the ISO/TC4 plenary meeting was successfully held.

In addition, during the meeting, the Bearing Research Institute presided over the ISO/TC4/SC6 "Spherical Plain Bearings" and SC11 "Linear Motion Rolling Bearings" sub-technical committee meetings. Since the end of 2021, when the Bearing Research Institute took over the secretariat and chairmanship of ISO/TC4/SC6 and SC11 from the United States on behalf of China, it has successfully initiated 2 new work projects, completed the review of 9 standards, established 3 new working groups, and significantly increased the activity of the two SCs, demonstrating China's responsibility on the international standardization stage.

Demonstrating Technical Strength, Consolidating Leadership

The meeting lasted 5 days, covering 6 sub-technical committee (SC) meetings, 4 working group (WG, AG) meetings, and the ISO/TC4 plenary meeting. The Bearing Research Institute led the Chinese delegation to propose multiple topics and achieved significant progress:

1. Leading the proposal of new international standard work projects: Based on leading the formulation of the national standard GB/T 25767 "Rolling Bearings - Tapered Roller Bearings," the Bearing Research Institute led the proposal of a new international standard work project titled "Rolling Bearings - Tapered Roller Bearings - Dimensional and Geometrical Product Specifications (GPS) and Tolerances," which will unify the design and production of tapered rollers worldwide, improve the performance and interchangeability of tapered rollers, and promote breakthroughs in mass production technology of high-precision tapered rollers. The Chinese delegation also proposed a new international standard work project titled "Spherical Plain Bearings - PTFE Fabric Lined Self-Lubricating Bearings," which will provide technical support for the global promotion and application of PTFE fabric lined self-lubricating bearings, guide and regulate their development, and help China's spherical plain bearings capture the international market.

In addition, two ongoing international standard projects led by China are progressing smoothly. ISO 19457 "Rolling Bearings - Linear Motion Rolling Bearings, Sub-Assemblies, Roller Blocks - Dimensional and Tolerance Values" is expected to be officially released by the end of 2025; the main technical framework of ISO 25260 "Rolling Bearings - Mounted Spherical Plain Bearings" has been completed and is about to form the second edition working group draft.

2. Voicing China's position in the core field of rolling bearing standardization: As the only national-level comprehensive research institute in China's bearing industry, relying on a solid technical research foundation and an excellent technical team, the Bearing Research Institute continuously contributes Chinese wisdom in core international standardization fields such as bearing theoretical calculation, geometrical product specifications, and testing methods, voicing China's perspective in international standard formulation. In the field of geometrical product specifications, Chinese experts have become core members of the ISO/TC4/AG2 "Support for Geometrical Product Specification Matters" advisory working group, holding strong influence. In bearing theoretical calculation, at the ISO/TC4/SC8/WG9 "Bearing Calculation Methods" working group meeting, China's independent research results were adopted in the international standard drafts ISO/TR 25165 "Rolling Bearings - Rated Life Calculation Method Considering Surface Damage" and ISO/TR 25269 "Rolling Bearings - Theoretical Reliability Calculation." In bearing testing methods, the important fundamental method standard ISO 7544:2024 "Rolling Bearings - Cleanliness Testing and Evaluation Methods" led by China was fully recognized by experts from various countries, enabling China to become one of the first active member countries of ISO/TC4/SC13 "Bearing Testing, Measurement, and Evaluation" sub-technical committee, seizing the commanding heights of international standardization in bearing testing methods.

Promoting and Leading Industry Development through International Standardization Work

Standards promote technological innovation and lead the progress of the times. International standards are an important cornerstone and technical support for the global governance system and economic and trade cooperation development. As a universal language worldwide, standards' role in facilitating trade, supporting industrial development, promoting scientific and technological progress, and regulating social governance has become a global consensus. As one of the earliest technical committees established by ISO, the TC4 "Rolling Bearings" technical committee's standards have made important contributions to the development of the global bearing industry and even the global industrialization process.

Hosting the 2025 ISO/TC4 plenary meeting is China's third time hosting this meeting after 1986 and 2013. The successful holding of this meeting fully demonstrates the rapid development achievements of China's bearing industry in recent years and enhances international exchange and cooperation. By hosting the meeting, China further enhances its voice in the ISO/TC4 governance system, laying a solid foundation for future international standardization work on rolling bearings. China's bearing industry will take this meeting as an opportunity to comprehensively accelerate its "going global" pace and improve its global competitiveness and influence.

As the secretariat unit of the National Rolling Bearing Standardization Technical Committee and the domestic technical counterpart unit of ISO/TC4, the Bearing Research Institute will continue to strengthen international standard research and international standardization team building, strive to lead the formulation and revision of more international standards on behalf of China, continuously enhance China's voice in the international standardization field of rolling bearings, promote China's bearing industry to move towards the international high-end industrial chain, and contribute to building a manufacturing power.

This meeting received strong support from Fujian Longxi Bearing (Group) Co., Ltd., Ningbo Meiate Precision Transmission Components Co., Ltd., Ningbo Yutong Bearing Co., Ltd., Renben Co., Ltd., and Ningbo Haiyate Roller Co., Ltd., for which we express our gratitude!