CHANGSHA, China — June 30, 2026 — The 13th Bearing Forum and the 2026 Academic Conference on Frontier Bearing Technology were grandly convened in Changsha from June 26 to 29, 2026. This prestigious event was jointly hosted by Luoyang Bearing Research Institute Co., Ltd., Hunan University, and Henan University of Science and Technology. It was co-organized by 20 leading institutions, including the State Key Laboratory of Interface Science and Technology for High-end Equipment, the State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Transmissions for High-end Equipment, the State Key Laboratory of High Temperature Light Alloys and Application Technology, and the National Engineering Research Center for High Efficiency Grinding, with extensive support from numerous participating organizations.

Centered around the theme "Intelligent & Connected Bearings, Empowering Industries," the conference brought together over 500 delegates from universities, research institutes, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), bearing manufacturers, and upstream/downstream enterprises across the nation. Distinguished domestic and international experts graced the event, including Academician Lu Jianbin and Academician Li Dianzhong from the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Zhou Yu, Chairman of the China Bearing Industry Association; Chen Enhou, Chairman of Luoyang Bearing Research Institute Co., Ltd.; Wang Hongbin, Party Secretary of Henan University of Science and Technology; Jiang Chao, Vice President of Hunan University; Martin Correns, Chief Expert in Rolling Bearings at the Schaeffler Group; Oliver Koch, Professor at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern; and Benyebka Bou-Said, Distinguished Professor at the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon.

The opening ceremony on the morning of June 27 was chaired by Li Wenchao, Vice General Manager and Chief Engineer of Luoyang Bearing Research Institute Co., Ltd. Welcoming and opening addresses were delivered by Jiang Chao (Vice President of Hunan University), Chen Enhou (Party Secretary and Chairman of Luoyang Bearing Research Institute Co., Ltd.), Wang Hongbin (Party Secretary of Henan University of Science and Technology), and Zhou Yu (Chairman of the China Bearing Industry Association).

Keynote Presentations Highlight Industry Breakthroughs

The keynote sessions spanned two mornings, showcasing ground-breaking research and strategic industry roadmaps:

On the morning of June 27, the keynote session was co-chaired by Professor Feng Kai of Hunan University and Professor Zhang Yongzhen from the National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Bearing Tribology Technology and Application. Eight renowned experts delivered keynote speeches:

◆ Academician Lu Jianbin: "Progress in Superlubricity Research"

◆ Academician Li Dianzhong: "Development of Bearing Steel and High-Precision Bearings"

◆ Zhou Yu: "Synergistic Integration of Industry, Academia, Research, and Application to Solve Industry Development Bottlenecks"

◆ Li Wenchao: "Aviation Bearing Testing Technology and Equipment"

◆ Professor Feng Kai: "The New Generation of Sliding Bearing Technology: Transformations and Challenges"

◆ Gu Ruijie: "Study on the Combined Ring Rolling-Expanding Precise Forming Process for Large Wind Turbine Self-aligning Roller Main Bearings"

◆ Martin Correns: "Premature Failure in Wind Turbine Main Bearings - Root Causes and Potential Countermeasures"

◆ Professor Oliver Koch: "Three Major Challenges of Electrical Current Passage in Rolling Bearings"

On the morning of June 28, the keynote session was presided over by Professor Han Qingkai of Northeastern University and Professor Hua Lin of Wuhan University of Technology. Ten specialists presented their latest insights:

◆ Hong Jun: "AI + Mechanical Engineering"

◆ Wu Yuhou: "Ceramic Ball Bearings"

◆ Wang Liqin: "Progress in the Development of High-Temperature Bearings"

◆ Hua Lin: "Dynamic Optimization Design and High-Performance Manufacturing of High-End Bearings"

◆ Song Kexing: "Microstructure and Property Optimization of Current-Carrying Friction Copper Alloys"

◆ Kou Yuanlin: "Improving the Basic Dynamic Load Rating of Rolling Bearings Based on High-Precision Life Prediction Technology"

◆ Kris Van Gasse: "WEC Problem Situation and Solution Landscape"

◆ Zhang Yongzhen: "Exploratory Research on Bearing Lightweighting and Titanium Alloy Bearing Materials"

◆ Han Qingkai: "Key Technologies and Applications of Sensor-Embedded Intelligent Bearings"

◆ Professor Benyebka Bou-Said: "Toward Sustainable Oil-Free Rotating Systems: THD-Dynamic Assessment of Porous Gas Journal Bearings with Air, R-134a, Helium, and Hydrogen"

Specialized Sessions Address Technical and Industry Needs

During the afternoons of June 27 and 28, the conference branched into targeted parallel technical and application forums to encourage concentrated technical discourse:

◆ Technical Fields: Sub-forums covered "Bearing Tribology and Lubrication Theory," "Bearing Design Theory and Methods," "Bearing Applications and New Technology R&D," and "Bearing Materials, Manufacturing, and Testing Technology."

◆ Application Spheres: Focused sessions targeted critical high-end fields, namely "Automotive Bearings," "Aerospace Bearings," "Wind Power Bearings," and "Bearings for Turbomachinery."

◆ Talent Development: A dedicated seminar was convened on "Talent Cultivation in the Bearing Industry" to address human resource strategies for future growth.

Driving Innovation and Industry Transformation

Throughout the forum, academicians, scholars from prestigious universities, research directors, and executives from renowned global bearing corporations shared a total of 138 technical reports. The presentations closely aligned with the industry's future development trajectory, focusing on smart manufacturing, fundamental research, frontier technologies, and pathways to overcome critical bottlenecks.

As a principal co-host, Luoyang Bearing Research Institute Co., Ltd. remains committed to strengthening cross-institutional synergy. This forum has established an invaluable platform for deep technical exchange, broadening the horizons of participants across their respective fields. By fostering closer collaborations among industry, academia, research, and application partners, the insights generated here will actively propel scientific breakthroughs, accelerate technological innovation, and catalyze the high-quality transition of China’s bearing industry from a position of scale to one of global strength.