In April 2021, bearing manufacturer NKE Austria GmbH was again honoured to receive the Austria Quality Seal. The accredited quality seal is awarded by the Austrian association for

the promotion of quality (ÖQA) after successful quality inspections. Quality Seal bearers receive with the commendation a certificate as proof of the distinguished quality of the products and services from domestic companies. This certificate entitles NKE to display the quality seal on all of its products and documents for the next two years.

“The audit is conducted every two years and is based on the international standards for Quality Management ISO 9001, Environmental Management ISO 14001 and Occupational Health and Safety Management OHSAS 18001,” explains Daniel Stöckl, Head of Quality Management at NKE in Steyr. “The special feature of this programme is that in order to display the quality seal, at least 50 percent of the value component must be realised in Austria.” For purposes of value creation, the review considers not just production or manufacturing but also development, marketing, sales, purchasing, logistics and packaging of the products or services. “The Austria Quality Seal is an important certificate which sets us apart from our competitors,” says Matthias Ortner, Deputy Managing Director of NKE. “And it reinforces the founding principles of our vision: innovative, tailored, high-quality bearings, made in Austria.”

By their use of the quality seal, the bearers commit to fulfilling the applicable quality guidelines and complying with the terms of use as stated in the ÖQA’s regulations. The Austria Quality Seal has been awarded for 75 years for products in which the Austrian value-added component of the cost of the finished product, including the costs of raw materials, semi-finished products, accessories, expertise etc., is at least 50 percent. The quality criteria should apply to all major properties of the product.