This section provides an overview for ball studs as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 21 ball stud manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked ball stud companies as of November, 2024: 1.Ameritool Manufacturing Inc., 2.Lyn-Tron, Inc, 3.Bossard, Inc.
Table of Contents
A ball stud is a metal part used in mechanisms called joints in suspensions and stabilizers that absorb shock and vibration.
Also known as a spherical joint, a ball stud facilitates movement in multiple directions beyond simple rotational or linear motion. Traditionally, rubber bushings were used in suspension components, but ball studs are now preferred for enhanced strength and performance.
Ball studs are primarily used in automobile suspensions and arms. Compared to traditional rubber bushings, ball studs allow for freer movement, enhancing the transmission of road surface conditions to the steering wheel. This capability provides drivers with a more direct feel of the road. In the manufacturing industry, ball studs find applications in machine tools, textile machinery, and packaging machinery, serving as bearings in control and linkage mechanisms.
Ball studs are capable of supporting large radial and axial loads simultaneously in a compact design. They come in three main types based on the sliding surface: insert, die-cast, and oilless types.
The insert type features a spherical inner ring in contact with a special copper alloy bushing. The die-cast type has a spherical inner ring in contact with a special zinc alloy. The oilless type, on the other hand, uses a self-lubricating fluoroplastic liner for smooth rotation and tilting motion. Insert and die-cast types require regular lubrication with special grease to maintain functionality and prevent wear and seizure. Each type has its specific allowable operating temperature range: approximately 350 °F for insert type, 175 °F for die-cast type, and 300 °F for oilless type.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Honeywell International Inc. was founded in 1885 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Honeywell is a diversified technology and manufacturing company to global customers in many industries such as aerospace, building technologies, performance materials, manufacturing, and safety. Honeywell produces hardware and software solutions for each industry it serves. In building technologies, Honeywell designs access controls, electrical and wiring, fire life safety, and employee training services. In aerospace, Honeywell designs cockpit systems and displays, engines, cabin management and cleaning, and health and usage monitoring.
Peninsula Components, Inc., founded in 1982 by William Gardiner, is a solution provider to OEM design engineers by being a manufacturer of products such as cable ties & hardware, connectors, hinges, and thermal products used in medical supplies, automotive, clean energy, and aviation sectors. The company in San Carlos, CA, offers services including inventory management, 3D catalog, design solution, assemblies, and kitting. PENCOM has over 25 logistics sites in North America, Asia, Central America, Europe, and South America, allowing the company to manufacture globally and supply locally.
Ameritool, established in 1994, is a manufacturer and supplier of steel gas springs and dampers for use in boat building, aerospace, food service, and farm equipment industries. The company is based in North America and is a global supplier of gas shocks, tension springs, and custom gas springs. The company produces three types of gas springs: tension, fixed force, and adjustable gas springs suitable for use in marine, agricultural, pharmaceutical, food processing, and military. Their dampers product line is also accessible in three types; extension, compression, and dual rate. They manufacture and supply accessories like end mounts, ball studs, and brackets.
Industrial Gas Springs, Inc., established in 1982, operates as a manufacturer and distributor specializing in gas spring products. Headquartered in the United States, the company collaborates with IGS Ltd., England, to supply a comprehensive range of compression gas springs, locking gas springs, tension and stainless steel gas springs, dampers, gas struts, and gas shocks. Catering to the needs of original equipment manufacturers, Industrial Gas Springs serves various industries by providing quality and specialized solutions. As a business under Barnes Group, Inc., the company is consistent to serving its clients' requirements in the realm of gas spring technology.
APEX FASTENERS, Inc, established in 1993 and headquartered in California, United States, is a manufacturer and supplier of quality fastening solutions. Specializing in a diverse range of industrial fasteners, including screws, bolts, nuts, and rivets, APEX FASTENERS, Inc serves as a vital link in assembling and securing various structures. Their engineered products find applications in industries spanning aerospace, automotive, construction, and electronics. With a pledge to quality and reliability, the company's contributions facilitate seamless and robust connections, underpinning the integrity of countless projects and products across the globe.
National Technologies, a company based in Illinois, United States, was established in 1959 as a distributor of specialist technical services in fiber optics. National Technologies manufactures precision machined components supplied to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) across the globe. The company has positioned itself as the critical provider of precision machined components and assemblies for original equipment manufacturers globally, establishing status as the benchmark for excellence within the precision machined parts sector. National Tech possesses the requisite expertise and capability to deliver the competitive edge anticipated by its clientele.
Aetna Screw Products Co., founded in 1963, and based in Chicago, IL, is a manufacturer and supplier of spherical bearing products and industrial fasteners. The company specializes in spherical rod ends, ball joints, wheel bolts, tailored fasteners, and linkage products. Expanding to Mexico, China, and Europe, it's now a key partner for major distributors and OEMs. It provides various U.S.A.-made wheel and hub assembly fasteners for automotive, heavy truck, and agricultural equipment industries. The company offers logistics management services and streamlines supply chains with JIT & DFT solutions, ensuring products reach the assembly line in "AIAG" bar-coded bins.
Lynn Electronics Company, Lyn-Tron Inc., has been a manufacturer and supplier of electronic hardware since 1956 and is based in Spokane, Washington. The company provides spacers that can also be used as bushings, washers, and bearings, with standoffs that create space between two objects in an assembly. There are also screws, handles, chassis fasteners, and captive panel retainers used to hold panels or covers in place on a surface or a frame to serve various fields of engineering and electronics.
Bolt Products Inc. was established in 1947 and operates out of San Dimas, California. Bolt Products is a wholesale distributor of fastening tools both domestically and internationally and is ISO 9001:2015 certified as well as RoHS and WEEE compliant. Bolt Products offers many types of products including bolts and plastic fasteners, nuts, lug nuts, nut retainers, cap nuts, bushings, plugs, ball studs, brass inserts, stud receivers, cable ties, cordgrips, liquid-tight flexible conduits, marking systems, and clips.
Bossard, Inc. is based in Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA, and is a distributor of fasteners established in 1992 as a part of Switzerland’s Bossard Group. The company stocks fasteners for a wide range of industrial applications, including standard fasteners for construction or transport, structural rivets for weatherproofing and vibration resistance, and clip as well as bracket-type mounts for cable and wire management. The company mainly markets to client OEMs, but also serves customers in the rail, robotics, and automation industries.
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.
Was Sheng Enterprise Co. Ltd., established in 1985 and headquartered in New Taipei, Taiwan, is an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer of industrial mechanical components and aerospace industrial parts. Its product line includes standoffs for electronic component mounting, inserts for fastening materials, customized screws, and pins for joining materials. The company also offers various capabilities, including CNC machining, stamping, milling, and multi-stage cold forging. The company has engaged in collaborations with global business entities, including ASUS, BMW, Dyson, Ferrari, and General Motors.
CELO Industrial Fasteners has been a manufacturer of high-precision fixing and fastening solutions since 1963 and is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain. The company provides screws designed explicitly for plastic assemblies with molded pilot holes. Steel, aluminum, and magnesium screws are also designed to work with metallic assemblies while customization of functional parts is also offered. Cold-forming processes and similar procedures are available to create grooves, undercuts, and more complex geometry, serving the automotive, medical, electronics, household appliances, and leisure industries.
Morek IT OÜ is based in Tallinn, Estonia, and has been a manufacturer of components and accessories for electric cars since its establishment in 2004. The company’s products include universal, neutral (N) or protective earth (PE), and bow terminals. It also manufactures device connectors, distribution blocks, and insulated copper flexible busbars as well as related products, such as cable entry plates, glands and grommets, and photovoltaic accessories and connectors. The company serves global customers and provides logistic support for warehouses in Estonia, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic.
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.
Keba Fasteners has been a manufacturer and supplier of fasteners since 2002 and is headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey. The company provides niche fasteners only to worldwide distributors and wholesalers, including thread-forming screws for metals and plastics, cold & hot-formed parts like bolts and screws, turned parts which are available in steel, brass, aluminum, and stainless steel, and also stamped parts and custom-made fasteners. The products are supplied to multinational industries as well as small workshops.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Ameritool Manufacturing Inc. |
11.3%
|
2 | Lyn-Tron, Inc |
9.9%
|
3 | Bossard, Inc |
9.9%
|
4 | National Technologies, Inc. |
9.9%
|
5 | Industrial Gas Springs, Inc. |
8.5%
|
6 | Aetna Screw Products Co. |
8.5%
|
7 | APEX FASTENERS, Inc |
8.5%
|
8 | WAS SHENG ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. |
7.0%
|
9 | Peninsula Components, Inc. |
5.6%
|
10 | Bolt Products Inc. |
4.2%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the ball stud page as of November 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 | 10 | 52.6% |
Japan | 3 | 15.8% |
Taiwan | 1 | 5.3% |
Spain | 1 | 5.3% |
Turkey | 1 | 5.3% |
China | 1 | 5.3% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 5.3% |
Canada | 1 | 5.3% |
10 products are listed.
Ozak Seiko Co., Ltd.
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