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This section provides an overview for rod end bearings as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 38 rod end bearing manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked rod end bearing companies as of December, 2024: 1.AST Bearings, 2.Triangle Manufacturing Company, 3.igus, inc..
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1985-2014: Worked for Alstom Corporation, ABB Corporation, and Gadelius Corporation, designing Jungstrom air preheaters and mechanical design of diamond soot blowers. (ABB Corporation: https://new.abb.com/jp)
2014-2021: Worked as an engineering and project manager at Alvos Inc.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoichi-hiroki-92192394/
Rod end bearings, incorporating a spherical plain bearing within the housing, are also known as "rod ends" or "spherical plain bearing rod ends." They are used in assemblies for connecting parts and facilitating relative motion.
Figure 1. Example of Rod End Bearing Use
Rod end bearings are essential in various sectors, including construction, industrial machinery, automotive, and aviation. They are pivotal in connecting and transmitting motion in parts that undergo rotational or oscillating movements. For instance, as shown in Figure 1, they are utilized in production lines to control the movement of workpieces.
The rod-end housing ends, featuring either "male" or "female" threads, are designed for secure attachment, allowing for the relative displacement of connected parts through a spherical sliding structure.
Rod end bearings facilitate smooth and flexible rotational motion, enabling connected parts to rotate and tilt freely, akin to human joints. They are capable of withstanding high loads, making them suitable for heavy-duty applications.
Figure 2. Structure of Rod End Bearing
As depicted in Figure 2, a rod end bearing comprises a "bush" (inner ring) and a "rod end housing" (outer part with threads for connection). These components allow for adjustable connections by threading the male rod into the female-threaded rod end housing.
Figure 3. Types of Rod Ends
Rod end bearings vary by shape, lubrication, and material, each tailored for specific applications and requirements.
Additionally, resin-made rod ends offer lightweight, maintenance-free options suitable for environments with contaminants.
Figure 4. Link Ball
Link balls, another variant, combine a threaded shaft with a bushing, often covered with a rubber boot to prevent ingress of water and dust, with lubricant sealed within for smooth operation.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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AST Bearings LLC was founded in 1963, in New Jersey as a manufacturer of ball bearings. The company stocks an extensive inventory of miniature bearings and precision ball bearings that help in reducing rotational friction and support radial and axial loads. There are also linear, cylindrical, and spherical bearings where aligning of movements between shaft and housing is required. There are also other products such as bushings, rod ends, rollers, sub-assemblies, and much more. The applications of these items extend to aerospace, medical, robotics, food processing, green energy, and many other industries
Triangle Manufacturing Company, established in 1922, based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, manufactures stamped and fabricated motion components and assemblies to meet the needs of equipment manufacturers. The company’s product portfolio includes bearings, linkages, rod ends, Lazy Susan turntable bearings, and motor mounts. Their team of engineers help design the products from quoting to prototyping and manufacturing to on-time delivery. The company’s services provided will assist customers in creating ideal solutions to improve products and increase efficiency.
Jergens, Inc. established in Cleveland, OH in 1942 is a manufacturer of Workholding, Lifting and Specialty Fasteners products. Their product portfolio includes clamps, vises, fixtures, and chucks, used for precise and stable workpiece positioning in machining and assembly processes. The company serves industries Renewable Energy, Mining and Exploration, Marine and Offshore, Electronics and Semiconductors and Telecommunications. The company has ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100:2016 certification and have global delivery and customer support..
Boston Gear is a North Carolina-based manufacturer and supplier of power transmission components including bearings, clutches, enclosed gear drives, and AC/DC motors. Founded in 1877, the company offers more than 30,000 standard products, as well as the option to create custom-engineered solutions. The company is ISO 9001 certified, with clients in the mining and aggregate, energy, aerospace, defense, construction, and agricultural industries. Boston Gear components are also used in packaging and robotics operations by companies such as Disney and Coca-Cola.
igus, Inc., established in 1964 and headquartered in Cologne, Germany, is a manufacturer and distributor of complex technical polymer components. The company offers a range of products including plastic plain bearings, flexible cables, and energy chains. Additionally, it also provides connectors, robotic components, and 3D-printed products. These products find applications in various areas such as automation and robotics, automotive, and gaming. It is ISO 9001:2015 certified and has been awarded with the “NRW - Economy in Transition” competition award and the Rhineland Business Prize in the “Sustainability” category.
Transducer Techniques was established in 1979 and is headquartered in Temecula, California. Transducer Techniques designs and manufactures a complete line of load cells, torque sensors, special purpose transducers and related instrumentation that are often used in industries such as process control and factory automation as well as other fields of science and industry. Transducer Techniques product segments include load cells such as button and beam load cells, torque sensors such as reaction and rotary torque sensors, instrumentation with load cell displays and signal condition, accessories, and software.
Tiodize Company, Inc has been a manufacturer of coatings and composites based in California since 1966. The company deals in various forms of coatings as their product such as Dry Film Lubricants, Aluminum and Titanium anodizing, and Anti-Seize Greases, and provides services for their application as well. They also manufacture fasteners and fastening devices made of composite materials having high tensile strength, lighter weight, and can be processed into various shapes and sizes. Industries that require the application of lubricants for corrosion and friction resistance benefit from Tiodize's products and services, such as automotive, electronics, marine, and aerospace.
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.
J.W. Winco was originally founded as Ganter in 1894 in Germany. Winco specializes in parts manufacturing. Parts offerings the operating parts segment including handles, adjusting, and positioning parts; clamping parts segment featuring tensioning, clamping, switching, and levers; and finally the machine parts segment with indexing, locking, mounting, connecting elements, guides, spindles, rollers, magnets, casters, and wheels. Winco’s complete catalog contains over 75,000 standard parts. Winco is also ISO 9001 certified. Winco offers free CAD downloads and technical documentation for many arts.
ESM Aerospace, Inc. was founded in 1959 in Burbank, California as a manufacturer specializing in fabricating and machining near precision aerospace parts. The company is AS9100 Rev D accredited and has created the F-15, F-16, F18, F35, and Boeing 737, 777, and C17 aerospace programs. The company offers sheet metal services, including short-run production, precise fabrication, and metal stamping. More services are turning, milling, grinding, drilling, and specialty services such as brazing, soldering, EDM machining, and assembly.
Defense & Aerospace Business Solutions (DABS) is an ISO9001 and AS9100 Rev D certified contract turnkey manufacturer specializing in hard metal components. Founded in 1998 and based in Auburn, Washington, the company offers precision machining, fabrication, assembly and kitting capabilities for clients in military and commercial aviation, as well as the space exploration and travel sectors. The company also offers design and prototyping, swaying and bushing installation, and inventory management services, as well as M&A consulting on strategic acquisition expertise and six sigma supply chain logistics. DABS primarily serves government contractors like NASA, SpaceX and the U.S. Department of Defense.
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.
Action Bearing was founded in 1965 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company and its sister company Emerson Bearing are manufacturers and servicers of ball and roller bearings for OEM and maintenance markets throughout the United States as well as the international markets. The company distributes bearings and other products from companies such as Timken Drives, Nachi, NTN, Alinabal, and Bando. The company also provides bearing modifications including grooving, re-lubrication, and internal clearance.
The Timken Company is a manufacturer and supplier of power transmission products and industrial bearings established in 1899 and based in North Canton, Ohio, United States. The company primarily produces power transmission products such as lubrication systems, gear drives, and transmission belts. It also offers various bearings for industrial applications, including spherical, cylindrical, and housed unit bearings. The company is ISO 9001-certified, and mainly serves clients in the automotive, energy, and aerospace industries.
Bearings Industrial Supply Company, Inc (BIS) was founded in 1982 in Addison, Illinois. The company is a supplier and distributor of bearings, seals, belts, power transmission parts, and a variety of other industrial supplies to small and large customers such as Boeing and Toyota. The company isources from manufactureres such as Emerson, KOYO, Tsubaki, NTN, and Timken. The company's offerings include numerous types of bearings, many varieties of seals, several different belts, AC and DC motors, and power transmission components.
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.
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
Adept Fasteners is headquartered in Valencia, California and has a 40 year history of engineering and distributing fasteners and other industrial supplies to aerospace and military customers such as Boeing, Airbus, and Northrop Grumman. Adept Fastener’s product offerings include various bolts, bearings, bushing, cable ties, clamps, connectors, contacts, dowel pins, fittings, grommets, handles, heat shrink tubing, hinges, knobs, latches, nuts, panel fasteners, rivets, switches, tooling, and others to standards such as Boeing BAC and Airbus AS fasteners.
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.
THK Co., Ltd., established in 1971 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer that develops and produces mechanical components. The company manufactures a wide range of mechanical components, including linear motion systems, LM guides, ball splines, ball screws, and electric actuators. It also offers roller guides, slide packs, link balls, linear bushings, and cam followers. Its products are designed to provide accurate and smooth linear or rotational movement, ensuring precise positioning and motion control. The company has achieved ISO 9001 certification for its quality management systems. It serves a range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, medical, and semiconductor manufacturing.
Hangzhou Chinabase Machinery Co., Ltd., founded in 1992 and based in Hangzhou, China, is a manufacturer specializing in an array of products, including power transmission components. Its key products encompass chains and sprockets for industrial power transmission, gearboxes to enhance torque and reduce speed, couplings for shaft connections, and gears used across industrial applications. Its products find applications in automation, conveyor technology, packaging, food, pharmaceuticals, and more. The company maintains quality and sustainability, holding certifications like ISO 9002, ISO 9001, API, ISO/TS 16949:2002, and ISO 10012 measurement management system.
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.
National Precision Bearing Group of Mechatronics, Inc. established in 1979 and based in Preston, Washington, USA, is an AS9100/ISO9001-certified manufacturer and supplier of bearings and motion-related products. The company's product range includes ball bearings, miniature bearings, bushings, airframe control bearings, and spherical plain bearings. These products play a crucial role in facilitating motion and reducing friction, providing services to industries such as aerospace, industrial, medical and dental, precision, and defense. The company offers services such as cleaning and lube facilities, bearing analysis, quality/ISO assessment, packaging, and stocking programs.
igus GmbH, established in 1964 and based in Cologne, Germany, is a manufacturer and distributor of technical products made using polymers for movement. Its products include injection molding frames, motor control systems, and plain bearings, and it has over 240,000 products in over 1,000,000 variations. It serves 188,000 companies from over 80 countries worldwide in 50 different industries, including packaging, automotive, and renewable energy. The company is ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 50001 certified, and in 2023, it recorded €1.115 billion in sales. Since 2021, the company has purchased 380 new injection-molding machines and has replaced 275 old ones.
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.
Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd. - IKO is based in Japan and was established in 1950 as a manufacturer of bearings. The company designs Linear Motion Rolling guides and Mechatronics series and they were the first to produce Needle Roller Bearings. These products have vast applications in various industries as they are used in Electronics-related Devices and Equipment like semiconductors and for precision devices that are used in laboratory measuring instruments and medical equipment. Textile, printing, construction, transportation, and robotics are also on the list of industries that benefit from IKO products.
P.T. International, also known as PTI, was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. PTI is a distributor of European metric and American standard industrial power transmission products, serving the food/beverage, wood products, steel, automotive, and other industries. PTI’s 3 product segments are bearings, power transmission components, and linear products. PTI also offers value-added services including bearing forensics, private branding & custom labeling, custom projects, and new product designing. PTI is ISO 9001 certified.
SERVICE COMPANY was founded in the 1930s in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Today BEARING is a manufacturer and national distributor of bearings and power transmission parts and components. BEARING offers services such as field service inspections, damage analysis, surveys, reverse engineering, repair, part identification, and selection. BEARING parts include seals, gaskets, accessories, couplings, electric motors, gearboxes & gearing, chains, sprockets, belts, sheaves, material handling equipment, linear motion equipment, lubrication, and, naturally, many varieties of bearings.
Princess Auto Ltd., founded in 1933 and based in Winnipeg, Canada, is a supplier of an assortment of tools and equipment with over 50 stores across Canada. In 1977, it opened its first store in Edmonton, Alberta, and became a retailer. The company serves several workers, including inventors, farmers, and tradespeople and stocks products such as outdoor power equipment, hand tools, and hydraulics. It sells items from several brands, such as Dealer’s Choice, Braber Equipment, and King Canada, and it also has a foundation that provides financial assistance to trades students enrolled at Canadian colleges.
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.
Tri-State Bearing Company was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Evansville, Indiana. The company is an independently owned and operated distributor of a full line of bearings, mechanical power transmission, and motion control products to customers across North America in the agricultural, automotive, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical industries. The company has several product lines such as chains & sprockets, clutches & breaks, and couplings in addition to its namesake of bearings. The company also offers services such as custom-length modifications of certain components such as roller chains, electronic repair of drivers and controllers, and on-site gearbox assembly.
Bearing Distributors and Bearing Distributors & Drives have been family owned and operated since 1953 and are headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina. Bearing Distributors is a distributor of bearings, power transmission components, electric motors, and other parts from companies such as ABB, Bondhus, and American Pulley. The company has additional product segments including Industrial HVAC, Material Handling, Power Transmission Equipment, and Tools. The company offers services including branch inventory, plant surveys, vendor-managed inventory, onsite factory training, and repair services.
BDI Exppress was established in 1935 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. BDI develops and deploys custom distribution and supply chain solutions for customers across Asia, Europe, and North America. BDI serves multiple industries including automotive, primary metal, food processing, public utilities, pulp and paper, mining, material handling, bearings, mechanical power transmission, electrical power transmission and motion control, linear motion, pneumatic and hydraulic fluid power, industrial, safety, and material handling.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AST Bearings |
7.3%
|
| 2 | Triangle Manufacturing Company |
5.7%
|
| 3 | igus, inc. |
5.7%
|
| 4 | Aurora Bearing Co. |
5.7%
|
| 5 | ESM Aerospace, Inc. |
4.9%
|
| 6 | Transducer Techniques, LLC |
4.9%
|
| 7 | J.W. Winco, Inc. |
4.9%
|
| 8 | Quality Bearings & Components - QBC |
4.1%
|
| 9 | National Precision Bearing Group of Mechatronics, Inc. |
4.1%
|
| 10 | Jergens, Inc. |
4.1%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the rod end 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
|
22 | 81.5% |
|
Japan
|
4 | 14.8% |
|
China
|
1 | 3.7% |
38 products found
38 products
Sanyu Electronics Industry Co., Ltd.
180+ people viewing
Last viewed: 8 hours ago
Rod end bearings are spherical plain bearings that are used in a wide range of applications, from aircraft to automobiles, railways, and industrial...
4 models listed
Sanyu Electronics Industry Co., Ltd.
160+ people viewing
Last viewed: 8 hours ago
Rod end bearings are spherical plain bearings that are used in a wide range of applications, from aircraft to automobiles, railways, and industrial...
4 models listed
TOX Presso Technique Co., Ltd.
40+ people viewing
Last viewed: 1 hour ago
Very Fast Response
The front spherical rod end ZGK can be retrofitted. The rod end must be screwed tightly against the shoulder of the working piston. It is not possi...
Ozak Seiko Co., Ltd.
250+ people viewing
Last viewed: 7 hours ago
Standard Response
Lineup of machine element parts ■ Characteristics ・ Rod end with a screw ・ Refueling type ・ Hole diameter: φ5 ~ φ30 There are three types of O...
10 models listed
Ozak Seiko Co., Ltd.
10+ people viewing
Last viewed: 5 hours ago
Standard Response
・Rod end with female thread ・Lubrication type ・Hole diameter: φ5 to φ30
A and Day Co., Ltd.
310+ people viewing
Last viewed: 6 hours ago
Standard Response
A dedicated accessory for force measurement load cells. *Other model numbers are available.
10 models listed
Tatsuta Co., Ltd.
70+ people viewing
Last viewed: 2 hours ago
4.5 Company Review
Tatsuta Co., Ltd.
50+ people viewing
Last viewed: 7 hours ago
4.5 Company Review
Tatsuta Co., Ltd.
50+ people viewing
Last viewed: 7 hours ago
4.5 Company Review
The spherical inner ring is made of high carbon chromium bearing steel (SUJ2) that is hardened, polished, and chromated to minimize frictional resi...
Tatsuta Co., Ltd.
80+ people viewing
Last viewed: 2 hours ago
4.5 Company Review
The spherical inner ring is made of high carbon chromium bearing steel (SUJ2) that is hardened, polished, and chromated to minimize frictional resi...
Tatsuta Co., Ltd.
50+ people viewing
Last viewed: 6 hours ago
4.5 Company Review
■Structure and features JMC rod ends consist of a spherical inner ring, a housing, and a bush.The housing has a shaft and is machined with male or ...
Tatsuta Co., Ltd.
80+ people viewing
Last viewed: 2 hours ago
4.5 Company Review
■Structure and features JMC rod ends consist of a spherical inner ring, a housing, and a bush.The housing has a shaft and is machined with male or ...
Hatashige Shoten Co., Ltd.
30+ people viewing
Last viewed: 21 hours ago
Very Fast Response
■Rod end The rod end is a self-aligning plain bearing with the same precision and hardness as steel balls for bearings. The combination of a spheri...
