The American Bearing Manufacturers Association is an industry trade group that deals with all aspects of bearing technology. It was founded in 1917 as an informal group of manufacturers with the purpose of aiding bearing manufacturing during World War I. 1933 saw the ratification of Articles of Incorporation, by the then current members, as the Anti-Friction Bearing Manufacturers Association (AFBMA). In 1934 the AFMBA was incorporated as an organization in New York. In 1993 the organization formally changed its title to the American Bearing Manufacturers Association in order to better serve its members and to expand membership eligibility.