The Bearing Specialists Association (BSA) kicks off its 40th anniversary celebration at its 2006 Annual Convention, April 22 to 25 at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, Sarasota, Fla. BSA was founded in 1966 by the merger of the former Anti-Friction Bearing Distributors Association and the Association of Bearing Distributors. Today, its members include international authorized distributors of ball, roller, and other anti-friction bearings and their participating manufacturers.

Since its inception, BSA has focused on providing industry education and training, while defining the role of bearings within the greater manufacturing context.