Bearings suppliers including SKF and Schaeffler have been raided by European Union officials as part of an investigation into possible anti-competitive practices among manufacturers of industrial and automotive ball bearings.

The European Commission has not identified the companies that have been subject to the unannounced inspections but, in a statement, says that it “has concerns that the companies concerned may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices”.

SKF and Schaeffler have acknowledged that some of their sites have been searched by EU officials, and say that they are co-operating with the authorities.

In a statement, SKF says that EC representatives have visited its facilities in Gothenburg, Sweden, and Schweinfurt, Germany, “to gather information about possible anti-competitive behaviours among certain bearing manufacturers”.

SKF adds that it has a strict code of conduct which prohibits anti-competitive behaviour and that it is co-operating fully with the investigation. It says that it has no further information about the nature or outcome of the EC inquiry.