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This section provides an overview for ball rollers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 12 ball roller manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked ball roller companies as of December, 2024: 1.NBK America LLC, 2.Dr. Erich TRETTER GmbH + Co..
Table of Contents
A ball roller is a component that holds a ball, such as a metal ball, in a rotatable and partially exposed surface condition. Often referred to as a freebear or ball caster, it differs from general casters which use a one-degree-of-freedom rotating mechanism. Ball rollers can rotate 360 degrees smoothly in any direction, providing greater flexibility and movement.
They are commonly used as casters for carts to enable omnidirectional movement and as conveyance platforms in packaging operations to facilitate the smooth movement of products in various directions.
Ball rollers are ideal for applications requiring smooth rotation in any direction. They are used in cart casters, enabling easy orientation and movement. This feature is particularly beneficial in robotics, where responsive and multidirectional movement is essential. Additionally, ball rollers are implemented in conveyors to move and rotate products at right angles, which is especially useful for sorting packaged products.
Ball rollers consist of a main rotating ball supported by smaller balls (sub-balls) or three rotating shafts. This structure allows for smooth rotation with a low coefficient of friction, reducing resistance. However, when used as casters, their low surface friction and minimal elastic deformation can result in reduced ability to handle uneven surfaces.
The performance of ball rollers can be affected by surface conditions, as scratches on the ball or contamination can hinder rotation. They are made from materials such as steel, stainless steel, or POM, an engineering plastic with self-lubricating properties. Metal ball rollers often require lubrication to reduce wear, and removing this lubricant can lead to dust generation due to increased wear.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Omtec Corp., founded in 1984 and based in Marlboro, Massachusetts, is a manufacturer of material handling and ergonomic products that assist companies in manufacturing, warehousing, and packaging. Its products are patented in 21 countries and include pop-up ball transfers, positioner pads, and insert wheels. The company’s components are available as kits or individually, and manifolds can be custom-designed according to the customer’s configuration. The standard pop-up or fixed ball transfer tops are 1.25 inches and 31.75 mm thick, and the company also offers electro-static dissipative surfaces with optional grounding bolts and wrist jacks.
Ashland Conveyor Products, based in the USA, is a manufacturer of conveyor systems and related equipment. The company primarily serves industries that require material handling and conveyor systems. Its solutions are used in manufacturing, distribution, logistics, and other sectors where efficient material transportation is essential. The company offers a diverse range of conveyor products and related equipment, including conveyor systems, rollers and components, belts, accessories, and custom solutions. The company serves a broad customer base, including manufacturers, warehouses, distribution centers, and e-commerce facilities.
NBK America LLC, founded in 2015 and based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, is an American manufacturer and a subsidiary of Japan's Nabeya Bi-tech Kaisha, specializing in mechanical components. Their product range includes couplings, like miniature shaft couplings for precision machine tools and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, special screws, such as vacuum application screws and other machine components. NBK offers finite automaton (FA) solutions, including wireless positioning units for production lines and setup operations. NBK provides machine component servicing, such as vibration resistance treatment and laser engraving. Services for couplings and special screws include coupling stainless steel screw alteration and screw length adjustment.
Omnitrack LTD is an ISO 9001:2015-certified manufacturer of omnidirectional movement products established in 1909 in Stroud, England, UK. The company’s product lineup includes pneumatic ball transfer units for material handling or robotics applications, its Omnicaster brand ball multi-directional wheels for maneuverable conveyance, and custom ball transfer tables by project specifications. It also offers installation and maintenance accessories such as fixing clips and tools. The company’s products are commonly used in the defense, aerospace, and automotive industries.
FREEBEAR CORPORATION, established in 1948 in Osaka, Japan, is a manufacturer of ball transfer systems. Its products, including Freebear, Mega Slider, Freebear Slider, Pneumatically Actuated freebear unit, and Freebear unit/table, enable effortless movement of heavy objects in any direction. These systems find applications in various manufacturing sectors, especially the automobile industry. It holds numerous industrial property rights and patents, holding a significant market share. The company also holds ISO9001 and ISO14001 certification, and its products comply with RoHS standards, ensuring quality and environmental responsibility.
Dr. TRETTER was started in 1970 by Dr. Tretter in Rechberghausen, Germany as a manufacturer and supplier of linear technology products using materials such as stainless steel and Hastelloy. These products include tolerance sleeves, ball casters, and linear guides including wave guides, ball bushings, lead screws, and rail guides used in pumps, electric motors, and as construction elements for conveyor systems, feeds, presses or assembly stations. The company also has a facility in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.
Berry Global Inc., founded in 1967 in Evansville, IN, is known as a manufacturer of plastic products such as bags and bulk bags, bottles and applicators. The company's product portfolio includes plastic packaging solutions for various industries, including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and consumer goods, plastic extrusions, and industrial plastic components for industrial machinery, equipment, and automotive applications. They also offer custom packaging, warehousing, technical support, and distribution services to their customers.
BNB Int Co. Ltd. is a manufacturer of bearings and motors that was established in Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, in 1990. The company’s products include ball bearings and related products, such as ball and spring plungers and ball transfer units for conveyor systems or robots. It also offers various motors for industrial applications, including stepper motors and DC motors, as well as motor parts for repair such as rotary dampers. The company’s products are mainly used by its clients in the semiconductor, automotive, and rail industries.
Richmond Wheel & Castor Co. was founded in 1958 in Auckland, New Zealand, as a supplier of material handling and industrial equipment. The product portfolio of the company encompasses European Style Carbon Steel 2m Barn Door Hardware Kit, 100mm Rubber Wheel 70kg Capacity Castor, Galvanised Pallet Jack, and 50x25mm Rectangle Tube End Cap, among others. The products find applications in interior design, material handling, and logistics, as well as in warehouses and various industries to protect and finish tube ends. The company caters to various industries, including construction, interior design, logistics and warehousing, manufacturing, automotive, and furniture.
SUN RISE TECHNOLOGIES Co., LTD., a supplier of industrial products with more than 30 years of experience in the field of mould and dies components, machinery, and machine tools, based in Thailand. The company distributes products and subcontracts OEM manufacturing for many industries in local and global markets. They also develop and manufacture standard Industrial products under SRT brand. They provide a full range of services of engineering, precision grinding, welding and assembly, including others using cutting edge technology.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NBK America LLC |
66.7%
|
| 2 | Dr. Erich TRETTER GmbH + Co. |
33.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the ball roller page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
4 | 44.4% |
|
United Kingdom
|
1 | 11.1% |
|
Japan
|
1 | 11.1% |
|
Germany
|
1 | 11.1% |
|
NEW ZEALAND
|
1 | 11.1% |
|
Thailand
|
1 | 11.1% |
15 products found
15 products
Joe Prince Takeshita Co., Ltd.
220+ people viewing
Standard Response
■Product features Freebear with spring.
Joe Prince Takeshita Co., Ltd.
110+ people viewing
Last viewed: 13 hours ago
Standard Response
Joe Prince Takeshita Co., Ltd.
120+ people viewing
Last viewed: 13 minutes ago
Standard Response
Joe Prince Takeshita Co., Ltd.
100+ people viewing
Last viewed: 4 hours ago
Standard Response
Joe Prince Takeshita Co., Ltd.
70+ people viewing
Last viewed: 43 minutes ago
Standard Response
Joe Prince Takeshita Co., Ltd.
100+ people viewing
Last viewed: 6 hours ago
Standard Response
■Product features It is a downward facing type free bear.
Joe Prince Takeshita Co., Ltd.
80+ people viewing
Standard Response
Joe Prince Takeshita Co., Ltd.
100+ people viewing
Standard Response
■Product features Freebear with spring.
Joe Prince Takeshita Co., Ltd.
110+ people viewing
Last viewed: 17 hours ago
Standard Response
Joe Prince Takeshita Co., Ltd.
120+ people viewing
Last viewed: 4 hours ago
Standard Response
Atom Living Tech Co., Ltd.
50+ people viewing
Last viewed: 5 hours ago
Standard Response
■About hinged door hardware (door hardware/door fittings) Introducing a variety of hinged door hardware, including pet doors that allow pets to fre...
Hoshimoto
50+ people viewing
Last viewed: 1 hour ago
Standard Response
■Features - By using ball casters, the friction applied to the transported object changes from "sliding friction" to "rolling friction", allowing t...
TOCHIGIYA CO.,LTD.
40+ people viewing
Last viewed: 14 hours ago
■Features A ball caster suitable for alignment of glass substrates, etc. Resin balls and specially shaped trays suppress dust generation and suppor...
Life Industry Co., Ltd.
30+ people viewing
Last viewed: 1 day ago
Standard Response
Taiyo Kogyo Co., Ltd.
70+ people viewing
Last viewed: 14 hours ago
Ball caster specification. It is possible to freely change the direction of conveyed objects.
