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This section provides an overview for linear guides as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 18 linear guide manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked linear guide companies as of December, 2024: 1.Bimeccanica S.R.L., 2.Quality Bearings & Components - QBC, 3.PIB Bearing, Inc..
Table of Contents
A linear guide is a mechanical component that facilitates linear motion.
Similar products, such as LM guides, are also available in the market. Additionally, some linear guides come equipped with encoders, making them ideal for precision equipment like industrial robots.
Linear guides enable a block (movable base) to move back and forth along a rail with minimal resistance, ensuring consistent and smooth linear motion.
Linear guides find extensive use across various industrial sectors, particularly in production facilities. Common applications include feeding workpieces in a straight line in manufacturing plants, facilitating linear movement of cylinders, and guiding workpieces for precise positioning. They are also used in automation, where mechanisms like link systems, stoppers, or reversing mechanisms are required.
Linear guides typically consist of a rail, a block, and balls that facilitate movement. Most are equipped with seals to protect the moving parts from dust and other contaminants.
The interaction between the rail and block through the driving balls enables smooth linear motion. As the block moves along the rail, the balls roll on their respective surfaces, reducing friction and enhancing motion efficiency.
Integrating linear guides with encoders allows for precise position detection post-movement. When combined with feedback control and servo or stepper motors, they can achieve high-precision positioning.
Given their use in demanding applications like industrial robots, linear guides are available in various configurations. Options include guides with rollers instead of balls for increased rigidity, different sizes for diverse requirements, and guides designed for curved motion. These variations cater to specific needs and can be selected from manufacturers' catalogs.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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LinTech was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Monrovia, California. The company is a manufacturer that also designs and engineers positioning components and systems for use in a wide range of linear motion control applications for customers in aerospace, food processing, machine tool, semiconductor, and other markets. The company offers a range of products from linear ball bushings & shafts to ball screw assemblies, rotary stages, and more. The company offers extensive technical support and customer service including assistance with CAD files.
PIB Bearing, Inc. is based in Union City, California, USA, and is a manufacturer and distributor of standard as well as custom bearings for industrial applications that was established in 1983 as Pacific International Bearing. The company produces various bearings including miniature bearings, angular contact bearings, and roller clutch bearings. It also offers bushings, rubber wheels, and oil seals for a range of compatible material transport systems. The company’s products are commonly used in the industrial automation sector, as well as in robotics and machine tools.
Modern Linear, Inc., founded in 2004 with headquarters in the USA, is a manufacturer, distributor, and supplier of linear motion products. The company's products include guide roller components, bushings, linear bearings, linear tracks, and linear motion controls. Modern Linear's products are used across numerous industries, including the medical, electronic, packaging, construction, and commercial markets. Examples include material handling equipment in factories and warehouses. The company also offers custom coatings, machining, lubricants, custom designs, and custom production.
Accu-Tech USA, established in 2008 and headquartered in Wake Forest, North America, is a manufacturer and distributor of automation and motion control machinery. The company specializes in inventive products, applications, engineering support, and machining services. It offers many automation products, including linear motion products, ball screws, linear guideways, actuators, and collaborative robots. Established as a part of the JHOSTER group, it provides comprehensive solutions encompassing engineering design, customization, and unparalleled service. The company offers tailored automation solutions with engineering design, premium service, and comprehensive customer support.
Quality Bearings & Components (QBC) has been a distributor of bearings and related motion control components since 1950. The company is under the Designatronics division, headquartered in New York, USA. The company supplies various bearings, such as ball, roller, thrust, and spherical plain bearings. These components are critical in reducing friction and facilitating smooth motion in machinery and equipment. The company also has other motion components, including bushings, rod ends and linkages, linear motion products, pillow blocks and flanges, and shafting. The company serves a broad customer across various industries, including manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, agriculture, and industrial machinery.
NB Corp. of America, founded in Hanover Park, IL, in 1939 is a supplier of linear motion systems. The company's product portfolio includes motion control components and systems, including, Linear Bearings and Guides, Ball and Lead Screws, Linear Motion Systems, and Precision Balls. The company serves industries such as Oil and Gas, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Construction, and Power Generation. The company has a global sales network and a customer support center.
Nippon Bearing was established in 1939 and is headquartered in Ojiya-City, Niigata, Japan as a manufacturer of linear motion products. The company is known for producing linear bearings, and some of its other products include Linear and Slide Guides, Ball Splines, Cross Roller Guides, and Linear Bushings. These items have extensive use in industries that work with optical equipment and high-precision measurements as the products have motion accuracy as well as rigidity. The company also provides parts and tools for general machinery as well.
NSK Ltd., based in Japan, is a manufacturer of precision bearings and motion control solutions which started its journey in 1916. The company has established itself as a major supplier for multiple industries, including automotive, industrial machinery, and aerospace. Their extensive product portfolio encompasses ball bearings, roller bearings, and linear motion components. Their Motion & Control products and technologies support the motion that brings comfort and convenience in cars, planes, wind turbines, satellites, and almost anything with moving parts.
THK Co., Ltd. was incorporated in 1946 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. THK is a manufacturer and supplier of machine components such as linear motion components for customers globally. THK’s products are used in many industries including electronics, aerospace, industrial robots, and precision instruments. THK’s primary product categories are Linear Motion, Feed Screw, Rotation, Custom Assemblies, and Seismic Isolation. Linear Motion products assist in linear motion and transportation. They include linear motion actuators, guides, and rollers. Feed screws include ball screws, screw nuts, and change nuts. Seismic Isolation includes both large systems and small guides.
Festo Corporation, established in 1925 and headquartered in Esslingen, Germany, is a supplier of automation technology and technical education and is ISO 9001, ISO 13485, and ISO14001 certified. It has around 33,000 catalog products, customized components, and ready-to-install solutions, including grippers, motors, and sensors used in industrial and process automation. The company won the German Future Award in 2010 and serves 300,000 customers worldwide, while its education division provides training solutions for 56,000 industrial companies and educational institutions. It registered €3.81 billion in the 2022 financial year and is available in around 60 countries, with 2,600 patents worldwide.
NSK Americas, Inc., founded in 1973 with headquarters in the USA and facilities worldwide, is a global manufacturer of bearings, automotive components, and precision machinery. The company's product line includes numerous bearings, direct-drive motors, cartesian robots, automotive wheel hub units, and steering systems. NSK's products are used in various manufacturing industries for optimized production and automation, including automotive, chemical processing, construction, steel, and consumer product manufacturing markets. An example is the company's Monocarriers MCH Series, which features high-rigidity rails used for cantilever beams and other factory automation applications.
Bosch Rexroth’s origins date back to 1795 and is now based in Lohr am Main, Germany. Bosh Rexroth is a manufacturer of industrial and mobile equipment control and motion products and systems. Bosch Rexroth’s products are divided into 10 technology segments. First is assembly technology which includes modular components. Next are electronic drives and controls which include CNC and motion control. Industrial hydraulics and linear motion technology follow. Mobile hydraulics, electronics, and IoT include solutions for mobile machines. Gear technology includes planetary gearboxes. The final four segments are molding and casting technology, tightening technology, resistance welding, and mobile robotics.
Thomson Industries, headquartered in the United States, is a global manufacturer of motion control solutions since 1936. They have been one of the forerunners in the motion technology industry with products supplying optimized motion solutions to a broad range of industries and application areas including factory automation, medical, aerospace and defense, and more. The company merged with Regal Rexnord in 2023 as a key business in the automation and specialty platform. As part of Regal Rexnord, they are even more equipped to provide complete system solutions through their control, drive, power transmission and precision linear motion technologies.
Ewellix is based in Göteborg, Sweden, and is a manufacturer of linear motion and actuation solutions originally founded in 1968 as SKF Motion Technologies before being acquired by Triton Partners in 2018. The company’s products include ball and roller screws, lifting columns, and linear guides. These are mainly used by clients in the medical device production, automated assembly design, and mobile machinery markets. The company also offers training events, tool guides, and machine performance optimization software.
NSK Europe Ltd., situated in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, is a manufacturer and distributor of a range of mechanical components. Its offered components include motion control products, and automotive components such as wheel bearings, engine belt drive parts, and mounting components. These products are used in various applications such as wind turbines, machine tools, production lines, and vehicles. The company holds several certifications, including ISO 9001:2015 across all its European sites and IATF 16949:2016 for its automotive operations.
Lee Controls LLC (Lee Linear), established in 1965 and headquartered in Roscoe, Illinois, United States, is a manufacturer and supplier of precision linear motion components. The company's products include linear shafts, linear shafting support rails, and flange mount plain bearings. It offers full customization and ordering through its website or by requesting a quote on specially machined products. Its products are used in various commercial and industrial applications for material handling assembly systems, automation in wash-down bottling, and heavy-duty saws.
IKO International, Inc. founded in 1950 and headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey is a manufacture of needle bearings, linear motion rolling guides, precision positioning tables & machine components. The company offers specialized solutions for diverse manufacturing environments, including clean rooms, vacuum conditions, high-temperature settings, and locations with dust or spatter protection. IKO also exclusively provides C-Lube, a maintenance-free lubrication system with a lifespan of up to 5 years or 12,500 miles for M series linear ways and maintenance-free cam followers.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bimeccanica S.R.L. |
10.5%
|
| 2 | Quality Bearings & Components - QBC |
10.5%
|
| 3 | PIB Bearing, Inc. |
10.5%
|
| 4 | NSK Europe Ltd. |
10.5%
|
| 5 | Modern Linear, Inc. |
7.9%
|
| 6 | Lee Linear |
7.9%
|
| 7 | Accu-Tech USA |
7.9%
|
| 8 | LinTech |
7.9%
|
| 9 | NB Corporation of America |
5.3%
|
| 10 | Bosch Rexroth |
5.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the linear guide 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
|
6 | 54.5% |
|
Japan
|
3 | 27.3% |
|
United Kingdom
|
1 | 9.1% |
Italy
|
1 | 9.1% |
Sky Co., Ltd.
30+ people viewing
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■Features Standard size of slide rail, 35mm wide rail. ■Recommended screws M4 truss or bind machine screw ■Grease Epinoc Grease AP (N) ■Surface ...
Sky Co., Ltd.
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■Features Standard size of slide rail, 35mm wide rail. ■Recommended screws M4 truss or bind machine screw ■Grease Epinoc Grease AP (N) ■Surface ...
Sky Co., Ltd.
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■Features ・Slide rail with locking mechanism when stored. When it is locked in the stored state, lift the release lever to release the lock. ・Rai...
Sky Co., Ltd.
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■Features ・Slide rail with locking mechanism when stored. When it is locked in the stored state, lift the release lever to release the lock. ・Rai...
Sky Co., Ltd.
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■Features - Brake stop type. The inner member can be pulled out by pulling even harder from the full travel position. (A stopper is not included.) ...
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Sky Co., Ltd.
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■Features - Comes with L metal fittings for removal and removal. Drawers can be attached and detached with one touch. ・The product has left and ri...
Sky Co., Ltd.
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■Features - Comes with L metal fittings for removal and removal. Drawers can be attached and detached with one touch. ・The product has left and ri...
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■Features - Enhanced load-bearing performance with dual slide rails. ・A thin, heavy-duty slide rail with approximately twice the load capacity of ...
Japan Accuride Co., Ltd.
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Industrial equipment/electronic equipment model for linear motion
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■Features - Enhanced load-bearing performance with dual slide rails. ・A thin, heavy-duty slide rail with approximately twice the load capacity of ...
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■Features - Enhanced load-bearing performance with dual slide rails. -A heavy slide rail with a load capacity of 1,000N or more. ■Recommended scre...
Sky Co., Ltd.
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■Features - Enhanced load-bearing performance with dual slide rails. -A heavy slide rail with a load capacity of 1,000N or more. ■Recommended scre...
Sky Co., Ltd.
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■Features ・Strengthened load-bearing performance with triple overtravel slide rail. ・A heavy slide rail with a load capacity of 1,600N or more. ...
