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This section provides an overview for self-aligning ball bearings as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 26 self-aligning ball bearing manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked self-aligning ball bearing companies as of December, 2024: 1.Maedler North America, 2.TPA Motion, LLC, 3.Roller Bearing Company Inc..
Table of Contents
Self-aligning ball bearings are types of bearings that can rotate even when the shaft's center is tilted.
These bearings are effective under conditions of large radial loads and when shaft deflection occurs, or when misalignment happens due to the dimensional accuracy of the mounting parts of the bearing components. However, they are not suitable for use where there is a large axial load (load parallel to the shaft).
A bearing, as a mechanical element, minimizes friction in rotating parts of household appliances, cars, and industrial machinery. It supports the smooth operation of the machine and prevents abnormal noise, seizure, and failure caused by friction. It is now one of the indispensable parts because it can keep the shaft in a stable condition without impairing the normal operation of the machine.
Self-aligning ball bearings are commonly used in woodworking machinery, where shafts tend to deflect or tilt, and in the transmission shafts of spinning machines. The axial load capacity is not that high, so versatility is reduced.
Spherical roller bearings, which are also able to be aligned, use rollers and can support radial and axial loads. They are used in a wide range of fields, including general machinery, rolling mills, and paper manufacturing machinery.
Various types of bearings exist, which can be roughly divided into rolling bearings and plain bearings. Of these, rolling bearings are used in many types of machinery and equipment, such as cars and industrial equipment. Rolling bearings are mainly composed of the following three elements:
The outer ring's raceway of self-aligning ball bearings features a spherical surface whose center of curvature is aligned with the bearing center. Therefore, the inner ring, rolling elements, and cage can rotate at the same time, even if they are slightly tilted around the bearing center.
Although expertise is required when selecting a bearing, it is important to carefully consider how the load is applied to the shaft and how it is best supported before selecting a bearing that is suitable for the application and purpose.
In addition to the standard open type, there are other types of self-aligning ball bearings, such as sealed and tapered bore types.
Sealed bearings have rubber contact seals on both sides of the balls. This ensures durability even in environments with a lot of dust. Lubrication can also be improved by sealing with grease.
Tapered bore bearings have a tapered bore in the inner ring. By using an adapter when mounting the shaft, the ease of assembly can be improved.
When using self-aligning ball bearings, the following precautions should be taken:
1. There is a limit to the amount of misalignment that can be tolerated.
Even with self-aligning ball bearings, there is a limit to the amount of misalignment that can be tolerated. It varies by manufacturer and product, but it is between 0.07 and 0.15 radians (4 to 8 degrees). Even for the same product, the allowable range may be smaller depending on the environment in which the bearing is installed. It is recommended to consult with the bearing manufacturer's engineer.
2. Large axial loads cannot be supported
As with ordinary deep groove ball bearings, they cannot support large axial loads due to the small contact angle.
3. The balls protrude axially more than the inner and outer rings
It should be noted that the balls extend outward more than the width of the inner and outer rings in the axial direction. Larger ones extend several millimeters on both sides, so care must be taken when designing the bearing arrangement.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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SDP/SI was founded in 1950 and is situated in New Hyde Park, New York. SDPP/SI is a manufacturer of precision gears and high-quality mechanical components used in the aerospace, industrial manufacturing, medical technology, and robotics fields. The company manufactures parts in a variety of materials including alloy steel, stainless steel, bronze, brass, nylon, and titanium. The company also provides coating services such as heat treating, zinc plating, and painting. Additional custom options are available including manufacturing to customer drawings and specifications.
Roller Bearings Incorporated was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Oxford, Connecticut. RBC manufactures and markets precision bearings and related components globally, mainly to the aerospace, agricultural, automotive, industrial, and semiconductor manufacturing sectors. The company’s products are primarily divided into two market segments: aerospace and industrial. Both segments include basic components such as airframe control ball bearings, needle track rollers, ball bearing rod ends, and thin-section ball bearings. The Aerospace Segment also includes special machine components while the Industrial Segment also includes heavy-duty needles roller bearings and self-lubricating bearings subsegments.
McNeil Industries was founded in 1986 and is based in Painesville, Ohio. The ISO 9001-certified company is a manufacturer of seals, bearings, and other components for industries such as aerospace and firearms. The company’s three primary product lines are MAXM Bearings, Firearms, and Guide Systems. MAXAM Bearings are engineered to operate in harsh environments reaching 1000 degrees F, immersion in water, acids, and other corrosive environments. Firearms category includes weapons components such as guides, rails, barrels, sleeves, and safety locks. Guide Systems are designed with CAD software, and can be made from reverse-engineered products or developed as OEM products.
Mädler North America was founded in 2020 as the US-based subsidiary of Mädler which was founded in Berlin, Germany in 1882. Mädler specializes in manufacturing precision-made machine parts. Product lines include linear guides, bearings, bushes, bevel gears, worm wheels, castors and wheel systems, couplings, fastening elements, clutches, gear boxes, idlers, linear bearings, locking assemblies, machine mounts, elements for pneumatic machines various joints, rubber padding and dampers, splined shafts and hubs, sprockets, timing belts, spindles, adhesives, sealants, and other assorted accessories.
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.
Climax Metal Products Company (CMP) is an American manufacturer of engineered shaft locking solutions originally founded in 1946 before its acquisition by RBC Bearings in 2013. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, the company’s product range includes rigid couplings, keyless locking devices, shaft collars, and mounted light duty bearings. They also offer custom engineering and technical support services for unique customer projects. CMP products are primarily used by their clients in construction and mining, as well as in the transportation, aerospace, and energy sectors.
Aurora Bearing Co. is a Montgomery, Illinois-based manufacturer of mechanical bearings founded in 1971. The company produces various bearing configurations for clients in the automotive, aerospace and defense, construction, mining, and agriculture industries. The company specializes in manufacturing spherical bearings designed to accommodate oscillating movements, rod end bearings engineered to connect and maintain alignment throughout motion transfer processes, and journal bushings used to reduce friction, wear and tear under rotating shafts. Aurora Bearing Co. is certified to ISO 9001:2015 as well as AS9100:2016 standards and offers custom design and prototyping services to customers with demanding specifications.
Lubrite Technologies, founded in 1897 and headquartered in Hanover, Massachusetts, is a custom manufacturer self-lubricating components. The company specializes in producing bushings, washers, expansion plates, as well as bearings which are used to support medium to heavy loads operating at slow to medium speeds in a several applications, such as bridges, hydroelectric facilities, nuclear facilities, offshore drilling equipment and many more. It also extends to an array of complementary offerings, encompassing couplings, coupling adapters, and bearing housings.
TPA Motion was started in 2002 and based in Fort Mill, South Carolina. TPA Motion is now part of the Acuvi AB group of companies. Acuvi is a Swedish Technology company focusing on developing compact drive solutions for life science, medical, and industrial applications. TPA Motion is an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer and distributor of motion and precision assemblies. TPA Motion has 2 main product segments, component products and engineered OEM solutions. Component products include rails, actuators, bearings, guides, and assemblies. Engineered OEM solutions include microplate robots, curved rail systems, special telescopic slides, and high temperature systems.
OneMonroe was founded in the 1920s and is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. OneMonroe is an ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified global industrial manufacturing company serving several types of customers including manufacturers, distributors and catalog-houses across several vertical markets including aerospace/defense, automotive, medical, and transportation. Product lines include adjustable handles, bearings, casters, gaskets, hydraulic clamping, military spec hinges, molded rubber, piano hinges, pins, pull handles, quick release pins, seals, springs, toggle clamps, and various harnesses. Custom manufacturing is also available to meet specific customer needs.
Emerson Bearing is based in Boston, Massachusetts and serves both domestic and international customers of industries ranging from mining to machine tools to power generation to wood products to wastewater treatment to robotics and more with bearings and casters. Emerson Bearing’s product list includes adhesives, sealants, ball bearing, roller bearing, mounted nut bearings, linear motion bearings, rod ends, belts, sheaves, chains, sprockets, couplings, clutches, brakes, locknuts, washers, lubricants, pullers, tools, retaining rings, seals, and shaft collars.
Baker Bearing Company is a distributor of bearings based in Oregon since 1991. The company stocks various items from different manufacturing brands to further supply to its customers. The product listing includes flange units, pillow blocks, split housings, cam followers, and bearing seals. However, they excel in distributing popular as well as hard-to-find balls and bearings such as tapered roller, radial ball, cylindrical roller, spherical roller, and self-aligning ball bearings. There are also Angular contact ball bearings, needle roller bearings, and linear ball bearings and the industries served by Baker Bearing include agriculture, oilfields, industrial, automotive, and trucking
Accent Bearings Co. Inc. was established in 1993 and is a distributor for industrial bearings. Accent Bearings offers a full range of bearing-related parts including ball, cylindrical, radial, thrust, and standard, as well as CAM followers, rod ends, belts, sheaves, busings, bronze busings, bar stock, pulleys, chains, sprockets, gears, speed reducers, motors, clutches, brakes, couplings, shafts, shaft accessories, oil seals, gauges, retaining rings, air cylindeers, conveyor belts, and fluid power process control equipment.
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.
IF BEARING CO., LTD is a manufacturer of precision bearings. Established in 1995, the company is based in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China. The company specializes in designing and producing precision bearings for various applications. Its product range includes deep groove ball bearings, angular contact ball bearings, and tapered roller bearings, serving industries such as automotive, industrial, and robotics. IF BEARING offers services like customized bearing solutions and technical support. The company has been serving more than 2,120 companies from 96 countries from around the globe.
Established in 2001, and located in Wuxi, Jiangsu, China, MBY Bearing, is a manufacturer of Roller Bearings and Ball Bearing Units that have applications in various industries. The company offers Spherical Roller Bearings, Mounted Ball Bearing Units, Deep Groove Ball Bearings, Turbocharger Ceramic Bearings, and, Agriculture Machinery Bearings. They also provide inserts, cam followers, and water pump bearings that are used in Metal processing, Construction, Textile, Paper&Pulp, and, Mining industries. Their products are also used in Industrial Fans & Blowers, Elevators & Escalators, Aggregate & Concrete, Gear Boxes& Reducers, and, Forest&Woods industries.
Sriji Gopalji Industries Private Limited is a manufacturer of bearings and bearing components. Established in 2005, the company is based in Anandapur, Kolkata, India. The company's main activities encompass designing and producing various types of bearings and bearing components such as spherical rollers, tapered rollers, thrust balls, cylindrical rollers, and deep groove ball bearings. Its product such as deep groove ball bearings, angular contact ball bearings, and cylindrical roller bearings, serves industries such as automotive, industrial, and agricultural. Sriji Gopalji Industries offers services like customized bearing solutions and technical assistance.
Bushing MFG, founded in Jiaxing, Zhejiang, in 2006 is a manufacturer of self-lubricating bearings. The company's product portfolio includes Plain Bearings, Self-lubricating sleeve bearings that excel in low-speed and high-load applications, flanged self-lubricating bearings suitable for both radial and thrust loads, Self-lubricating thrust bearings designed to handle axial loads and Custom Bearings. Their products are used in markets such as Automotive and Transportation, Telecommunications, Industrial Automation, Healthcare and Medical Devices and Aerospace and Defense.
SKF UK is the British division of SKF, originally founded in 1907 and headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. SKF designs, develops, and manufacturers bearings, seals, lubrication systems, and services worldwide, with industrial and automotive segments, providing solutions for industries including aerospace, agriculture, transportation, food and beverage, general machinery, material handling, mining, energy, paper, and wind energy. SKF UK offers rolling bearings, mounted bearings, automotive seals, lubrication management, vehicle aftermarket services, waste electric products, and electronic equipment products as well as services including maintenance, remanufacturing, customization, and training.
WD Bearings, founded in 1999, is a manufacturer of bearings, including cylindrical rollers, spherical & tapered rollers, deep grove balls, angular contact balls, and combination bearings used in pump & compressors, gearbox, and machinery in the agricultural, construction, electric motor, and material handling industries. The Indianapolis, Indiana, company is ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and IATF 16949 certified and provides services like flexible manufacturing, product validation, customized solutions, limitless design modifications, and low MOQ capabilities.
PEER Bearing Company is a manufacturer and supplier of roller and ball bearings founded in 1941 and based in Waukegan, Illinois. The company was acquired by AB Svenska Kullagerfabriken (SKF) in 2008 but continues to operate independently within the SKF Group as one of its North American subsidiaries. The company produces various standard and specialty bearings, including deep groove and miniature ball bearings, as well as precision electric motor and tapered roller bearings. These supply clients in agriculture, automotive, industrial piping, and construction.
NTN Bearings began in 1918 in Kuwana, Mie, Japan, and is now headquartered in Osaka. The company is a manufacturer of bearings, velocity joints, and precision equipment, as well as a maintenance and service provider. The company serves the aerospace, automotive, construction, wind energy, and infrastructure industries. The company operates via BCA Bearings, Bower Heavy Duty Bearings, and NTN SNR brand of velocity joints, linear modules, distribution rollers, and suspension parts. Other components the company manufactures include linear motion, flanged discs, and condition monitoring equipment.
Founded in 2003, and located in Shandong, China, TFL Bearings Co., Ltd is a manufacturer of ball bearings, roller bearings, bearing units, wheel bearings, and accessories. The company offers Cross Roller Bearings, Ceramic bearings, Self Aligning Ball Bearing, Miniature Ball Bearings, and Angular Contact Ball Bearing that have applications in the Railways, Mining, and, Construction industries. They also provide Needle bearings, Plastic Bearings, Slewing Bearings, Joint bearings, and, Thin section bearings that are used in the medical sector.
Neon Trading Corporation is a manufacturer and supplier of precision engineered products. The company came into inception in 1980 and is based in Maharashtra, India. The company product range includes Ball & Roller Bearings, Spherical Roller Bearings, Super Precision Fiber Cage Bearings, Pillow Block Bearing Units and more. The company’s product are used in automotive, industrial machinery, and construction equipment sectors. The company also provide customer service that includes technical guidance and assist with product selection.
THB Bearings Co.Ltd, a company established in 2009, based in Shanghai, China, is a manufacturer and supplier of various types of bearings and related products. The company provides various products such as wire wound resistors, metal glaze film resistors, oxide film resistors, water cooled resistors, and ribbon wound resistors. These products are designed to be durable, energy efficient, and engineered to save money. A specialized solutions provider of bearing technology and it is an industrial technical services company that offers customers a simple and convenient source for bearing components, technical services and solutions.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maedler North America |
7.4%
|
| 2 | TPA Motion, LLC |
7.4%
|
| 3 | Roller Bearing Company Inc. |
7.4%
|
| 4 | Sriji Gopalji Industries Private Limited |
5.6%
|
| 5 | Aurora Bearing Co. |
5.6%
|
| 6 | Climax Metal Products Company |
5.6%
|
| 7 | McNeil Industries |
5.6%
|
| 8 | Accent Bearings Co., Inc. |
5.6%
|
| 9 | Emerson Bearing |
5.6%
|
| 10 | IF BEARING CO., LTD |
3.7%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the self-aligning ball bearing 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
|
13 | 61.9% |
|
China
|
4 | 19.0% |
|
India
|
2 | 9.5% |
|
Japan
|
1 | 4.8% |
|
Sweden
|
1 | 4.8% |
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