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This section provides an overview for slip rings as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 45 slip ring manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked slip ring companies as of December, 2024: 1.Vector Technologies Ltd, 2.Princetel, Inc, 3.DSTI.
Table of Contents
A slip ring is a rotating connector that can transmit power or electrical signals from outside the rotating body.
Power and signals are transmitted through a metal ring placed on the rotating body and a brush on the fixed side. It is used to measure the vibration, stress, and axial force of the rotating body and to transmit minute signals for control purposes. They are often used to serve as lead wires that supply power to the rotating body.
There are two main types of slip rings: shaft-end mounted and hollow. The shaft-end type is attached to the end of the rotating element. The hollow type is a ring block that is fitted into the rotating shaft. There are also two types: one in which the ring and brush are integrated, and one in which the ring and brush are separated.
Slip rings are available from low-speed rotary applications to 20,000 rpm high-speed applications. Some slip rings can handle high currents of 3,000 A or more, and are widely used in applications ranging from experiments and development to equipment.
They are used to supply power to wind power generators, machine tools, centrifuges, agitators, robot arms, cranes, surveillance cameras, helicopters, turntables, drum heaters, radar antennas, and other rotating body heaters and motors.
They also have a wide range of applications in semiconductor manufacturing equipment, medical equipment such as CT scans, non-destructive testing, and acoustic equipment. They are also used to measure the temperature, strain, and torque of rotating bodies.
A ring-shaped electrode part (ring unit) is attached to a rotating shaft, such as a turntable of a rotating body. Brush-shaped electrode parts contact the periphery and sides of the ring unit, and power and signals are transmitted using the points of contact as contact points.
Even if the ring unit rotates, it always has a contact point with the brush, thus enabling stable power supply and signal transmission. The ring unit has bearings to support the brush side.
Precious metals such as copper and silver are used for the contact points between the ring and the brush in the slip ring to stabilize the contact resistance without any risk of leakage. Bronze, silver, and gold are used for the ring, while carbon, copper, and silver alloys are used for the brush portion.
Slip rings are inevitably larger when there are many wires for power or signals. They also wear to a certain degree, so regular maintenance is required.
Slip rings transmit and receive from the electrical equipment on the rotating body to the stationary side, with the brushes acting as contacts. Since the brushes are always in contact with the rotating body, the transmission and reception can take place anywhere in a 360° position without wiring kinks or tangles in the shaft.
The number of brushes (contacts) varies according to the number of signals that need to be transmitted and received between the rotating body and the fixed side. Therefore, the more communication devices there are, the more brushes are required, resulting in the overall slip ring becoming huge.
In this case, the number of brushes can be reduced by using serial communication or CAN communication used in automobiles.
The disadvantage of slip rings is the possibility of contact failure due to brush wear. Since the brushes are in physical contact with the rotating parts, contact failure may occur due to deterioration over time.
Especially in equipment used outdoors, brushes may be damaged prematurely by sand, dust, or water intrusion if they are not protected by a sealed case. Therefore, it is common practice to extend the life of brushes by cleaning and lubricating them once every few years.
The lubricant used at this time should be conductive. Note that if it is not conductive, there is a risk of poor current flow in the brush section, resulting in poor communication between the rotor side and the fixed side.
The life of the brush section is generally from 10 million to 100 million rpm, and up to about 500 million rpm, depending on the manufacturer. When used in long-life equipment, the brush section needs to be maintained periodically.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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S. Himmelstein and Company (SHC) is an American manufacturer of torque sensors and signal conditioners that was established in 1960 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The company produces various torque measurement and calibration products including reaction and rotating torque sensors, as well as transfer standards for traceable calibration of torque sensors or instruments, and signal conditioners for amplifying, filtering, or converting signals from portfolio products. SHC products are used by their clients in the aerospace, energy production, automotive, and industrial manufacturing sectors.
Molex was founded in 1938 with the invention of Molex in 1938 and today is headquartered in Lisle, Illinois, and a subsidiary of Koch Industries. In the 1950s, the company invented the Molex connector which became the standard for power connections in personal computers for decades. Today the company is a manufacturer of electronic and fiber optic connectivity systems for customers in industries such as automotive, consumer electronics, healthcare, manufacturing, and telecom infrastructure. The company has several product categories including Connectors, Optical Solutions, Capillary Tubing & Micro Components, and Automation.
Princetel, Inc., established in 2000 and based in Hamilton, New Jersey, is an American manufacturer specializing in fiber optic connectivity solutions. The company's featured products are the fiber optic rotary joints (FORJs) which are installed in robotic vehicles, medical optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems, satellite antennae, submarines, and wind turbines. Other product offerings include fiber components and polishers, custom-configured fiber media converters, hybrid electrical or optical slip rings, outdoor fiber patch cords, and more. Alongside these product offerings, the company provides services like fiber termination and laser pigtailing. These products find applications across various industries, including biomedical, geophysical, communication, robotics, and machinery.
Fabricast Inc. is a manufacturer of slip ring assemblies that is headquartered in South El Monte, California, and was founded in 1960. The company began with electrical slip rings which later became diverse into a product catalog of stock slip rings, slip ring brushes, and custom slip rings. The stock slip rings cater to diverse applications but are applied generally in power and instrumentation. Slip ring brushes are used in noise instrumentation and power applications. Custom slip rings are dependent on end-user requirements.
United Equipment Accessories, Inc. is a manufacturer of slip rings, rotary unions, and integrated slip rings and rotary unions and was founded in 1952. The company produces slip rings, precision hydraulic swivels, industrial cables, and hose reels. The company also has a product catalog of shift controls for heavy-duty and off-road equipment. Its design options vary from cable fighters, column mounts, console mounts, and customer-supplied gate patterns. The industries served by the company include wind, construction, utility, and industrial markets.
DSTI or Dynamic Sealing Technologies, Inc. is situated in Andover, MN, and is a supplier of engineered fluid sealing and transfer solutions for rotating applications to a wide range of global industries. The company offers Rotary Unions, Electrical Slip Rings, Custom Solutions, and more. The company functions for industries like aerospace, alternative energy, defense, factory automation, food & beverages, and a lot more. The company is accredited with the ISO 9001.2015 certificate. The company is also Honored as a 2023 Top Workplace by the Star Tribune for the Fifth Year in a Row.
Vector Technologies, Inc. is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based designer and manufacturer of vacuums and related parts, serving industries such as automotive, food & beverage, mining, and wastewater management. The company’s product lineup features industrial vacuums, hydro-excavating, and water jet-vacuum categories along with various spare parts. Industrial vacuums are available in. both trailer-mounted versions and skid-mounted versions. Hydro excavating systems are available in capacity from 300 gallons up to 1200 gallons. Water jet vacuums are also available for up to 800 gallons at rates up to 4000 PSI.
Moog Inc. was incorporated in 1951 and is headquartered in East Aurora, New York. The company designs manufactures and integrates precision motion and fluid controls and control systems for customers including OEMS in industries such as aerospace, defense, industrial machinery, motorsports, and construction. The company’s product offerings include both systems and components. Examples of systems include actuation systems, naval systems, turreted weapon systems, and space vehicles. Examples of components include manifolds, slip rings, actuators, and servo actuators.
Deublin, established in 1945, is a manufacturer of rotating unions and fluid sealing systems, headquartered in Waukegan, Illinois, USA. Their products include rotary joints to facilitate fluid transfer between stationary and rotating components, steam joints for handling high-temperature steam transfer, and siphon systems for enabling fluid movement through gravity or pressure differentials. These products are used in various industries such as printing, packaging, steel, plastics, and food processing. Deublin is certified with ISO 9001 for quality management and ISO 14001 for environmental management.
Mercotac, Inc. is an American manufacturer of rotary electrical connectors used in slip ring assemblies. The headquarters are located in Carlsbad, California; where Mercotac was founded in 1978. As of 2023, the company offers 22 different models of rotary electrical connectors. The products are used in cable reels, electroplating, welding, and control devices. Mercotac, Inc. supplies companies within the US, and supports over 40 international distributors that deliver their products globally.
Conductix-Wampfler USA has its regional headquarters in Omaha, NE, and is the supplier of intelligent energy supply and data management systems for moving machinery. The product portfolio of the company includes the design, manufacture, and installation/service of a wide range of conductor bar systems, transit conductor rails, slip ring assemblies, and inductive power transfer, or IPT, systems, as well as cable festoons, spring-driven cable reels, and motor-driven cable reels. It is present in nearly all major countries.
Cavotec SA is an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer of industrial connection and electrification systems established in 1974 and headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland. The company designs and produces application-specific systems for powering and connecting industrial-grade machinery that helps reduce operational costs. These include automated mooring systems, crane electrification systems that reduce gas emissions, and radio remote controls for mobile equipment. The company primarily serves the oil and gas, aviation, and maritime industries. Its clients include Airbus, Shell, and the Costco Group.
Hangzhou Prosper Mechanical & Electrical Technology Co., Ltd. is a manufacturer of precision slip rings and joysticks that is headquartered in Yuhang District, Hangzhou and was established in 2003. The company caters applications in CCTV cameras, Smart robot, medical equipment and devices, and lifting platforms. The company’s product catalog includes standard slip rings that offer capsule slip rings and through bore slip rings, and customized slip rings for end-user specified requirements.
CENO Electronics Technology Co. Ltd is a manufacturer of slip rings and rotary joints that was established in 2009 in Shenzhen, China. The company produces various devices for transmitting signals or power between either stationary or rotating parts. Its products include function slip rings, fiber optic rotary joints, and hydraulic rotary unions for transmitting flow data of gasses or liquids. The company also offers additional design, fabrication and maintenance services for customers with unique project requirements. It mainly serves clients in the defense, robotics, and surveillance industries.
DR Italia, established in 1995 and headquartered in Milano, Italy, is a manufacturer of energy-feeding solutions for moving machines. The company's products include reels (motorized, hydraulic, electrical), slip rings for electrical continuity in rotating parts, and cable festoons for drive cables transferring energy and data. It also provides fluid couplings, electrical/fluid slip rings, and electrical wires. Its slip rings enable electrical continuity from fixed power supplies to rotate parts in automation and robotics, and its cable festoons transfer electrical energy and data in water treatment plants. The company's products are used in earthmoving, automation, and water treatment industries.
Servotecnica SpA., established in 1980 and headquartered in Monza e Brianza, Italy, is a manufacturer that specializes in industrial automation and mechatronics. The company offers a range of products, including slip rings, coreless micro motors, tubular actuators, servo drives, and encoders. It also offers customized mechatronic solutions to meet the specific needs of its clients. Its capsule slip rings are the transmission of low-current and high-frequency signals, such as Fieldbus and RF. It serves a range of industries such as packaging machinery, medical, pharmaceutical, and machine tools.
ENDO KOGYO CO.LTD, founded in Niigata, Japan, in 1931 is a manufacturer of Spring Balancers Air Hoist, and Air Balancers. The company's product portfolio includes Cable Reels, Slip rings, Crushers, self-locks and rail systems. The company serves industries such as Oil and Gas, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Construction, and Power Generation. The company also provides services including national distribution, product selection, customized services, technical support and customer service.
Nidec Corporation was founded in Kyoto, Japan in 1973 and is a conglomerate with over 200 subsidiaries. Primary products are hard-disk drive motors and automotive parts, and specializes motors ranging from miniature to gigantic. Nidec’s products are used in robotics, automotive, home appliances, agriculturel equipments well as molding, cutting, and machining equipment and sensors.
Motion Control Products Ltd. is a UK-based global supplier and manufacturer of various automation control systems, products, and components for all machinery and systems mechanization requirements. The company offers a range of products including Computer Numeric Control (CNC) and motion controllers which are components used in advanced manufacturing systems, automation, robotics, and aerospace. They also offer Drives and Inverters for use in film & foil converting equipment, printing industries, and to control stepper motors. The company also has offices in China, Hong Kong, and the United States.
Ravioli SPA is an Italian company founded in 1975 by its founder, Umberto Ravioli and it is a manufacturer of electromechanical devices. The company specializes in manufacturing electromechanical devices, including rotating sockets, hanging buttons, industrial safety remote controls, bipolar connectors for electric traction, and DC conductors. These products find applications in agriculture, lifting and construction, energy and environment, automation, electric traction, telecommunications, and the nautical industry. The company obtained its ISO certification in the 1990s and also holds CE marking conformity certifications.
NSD Corporation, founded in 1955 and headquartered in Aichi, Japan, is a manufacturer of mechatronics devices and control systems. Its product range includes rotary and linear encoders for accurate position sensing, digital readout systems for machine tools, motorized rotary tables for precision motion, servo systems, motion control systems, and integrated automation solutions. These products find applications in industries like robotics, CNC machinery, and industrial automation. The company holds both ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications for quality and environmental management.
The Kübler Group was founded in 1960, headquartered in Germany, and operating in 50 countries worldwide. The company is ISO 9001 certified and develops, produces, and distributes products & solutions for measurement, transmission, and evaluation purposes for heavy industry, bottling plants, alternative energy, and mobile automation. The company’s measurement products include data encoders, measurement systems, and inclinometers for measuring angles. Transmission products include slip rings, signal converters, and connectors. Evaluation products include process devices, displays and counters, and speed monitors.
LTN Servotechnik, founded in Munich, Germany in 1979, is a manufacturer of accessories for apparatus, machinery and plant engineering. The company's product portfolio includes Mounting Hardware, Sealing Solutions, Fasteners and Bolts, Cabling and Wiring Accessories and Ventilation and Filtration Components. The company serves markets including Medical and Healthcare, Aerospace and Defense, Consumer Goods, Industrial Manufacturing and Construction and Building. They also offer services including Plastics injection molding, prototyping, and design and development.
GAT, established in 1978, is a manufacturer and supplier providing solutions for industrial automation and control systems, headquartered in Geisenheim, Germany. Their product range includes rotary unions, torsion motors, air bearings, slip rings, and combine systems (rotary unions & slip rings). These facilitate fluid transfer, precise motion control, electrical connectivity, and frictionless movement, contributing to efficient operations in industrial automation and control systems. These products cater to industries such as automotive, medical industry, oil and gas, marine industry, and construction machinery and cranes. GAT holds a certification such as ISO 9001:2015.
BL AUTOTEC, founded in 1987 as a member of the Bando Chemical Co., Ltd. group with headquarters in Japan, is a manufacturer of robotics and automated equipment and components. The company's products include automatic tool changing components for robotics, rotary joints developed for positioners and turntables, couple joints used to connect and disconnect pneumatics and electric signals, and lock-up RCC devices commonly used for mounting tools to robotic arms. BL AUTOTEC also supplies a range of tools that include torque sensors, deburring tools, and finishing tools.
MTC Industries and Research Carmiel Ltd. is an AS9100D, ISO 9001:2015 and MIL-STD certified manufacturer of subsystems for the defense and aerospace industries established in 1977 in Karmiel, Israel. The company’s product lineup includes servo motors for converting electrical energy into mechanical energy, and servo actuators for providing controlled force and motion in platforms such as UAVs or gliding bombs. It also offers inertial sensors, gyroscopes, and slip rings for transmitting power and signals. The company’s products are mainly used by clients in the aerospace and defense sectors, such as Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries.
Hansen Corporation was founded in 1907 in Princeton, Indiana, and is now an ElectroCraft Company. The company specializes in synchron motor and DC motor production as part of ElectroCraft. ElectroCraft provides motion control solutions in industrial, commercial, and consumer product markets. ElectroCraft and Hansen product models include asynchronous drives, stepper motors, DC brush motors and brushless motors, and actuators. The company’s tech center includes a CAD library of Hansen and ElectroCraft products, a conversions calculator, and whitepapers.
SAV GmbH. is a manufacturer of clamping and load lifting systems that was founded in 1989 in Nuremberg, Germany. The company produces equipment and parts used in industrial load lifting, automation, and clamping operations. These products include stationary or rotating clamps, vacuum or magnetic loading systems, and automation assistive machinery. The company also provides its customers with product or fixture design and engineering services. It primarily serves the steel construction, medical machine manufacturing, and aerospace sectors.
Jinpat Electronics, established in 1996 and headquartered in Shenzhen, China, is a manufacturer of slip rings and rotary joints. The company specializes in the development, manufacturing, and sales of slip rings and rotary joints, crucial for transmitting power and signals between stationary and rotary parts. It offers capsule, through bore, and pancake slip rings alongside custom solutions like high-current and explosion-proof variants. Its products find applications in industries such as video surveillance, robotics, and offshore equipment. The company provides fluid sealing solutions for military and defense applications, enhancing mechanical performance and simplifying systems globally.
Exxelia was born in Paris, France in 2009 from the merger of five companies, the oldest of which was SIC-SAFCO, founded in France in 1921. The combined conglomerate is a manufacturer of electronic components to electronics manufacturers worldwide. The conglomerate’s entities are organized into 3 global business units: Capacitors, Magnetics, and Resistors & Subsystems. Capacitors are divided into basic materials such as aluminum electrolytic, ceramic, film, and tantalum. Magnetics are divided into functions with inductors, transformers, and rotors as subsections. Resistors & Subsystems are also divided by function and design with resistors, filters, position sensors, and mechanics & subassembly.
STEMMANN-TECHNIK is a manufacturer and supplier of energy and data transfer components and systems based in Germany since 1912. The company's product line includes cable festoon systems, cable reels, slip ring assemblies, and conductor lines for use in cranes, hoisting devices, conveyors, environmental engineering, and workshop equipment for data and power transmission. The company also deals in roof-mounted pantographs, stinger systems, ground contacts, and 3rd rail current collectors that are essential equipment for tram lines, metropolitan railways, metros, traction units for energy and control parameters, hydraulic oil and coolants, and various other applications serving the railways and many other industries.
MOFLON, established in 1989 and headquartered in Suzhou, China, is a manufacturer and supplier of rotary unions (rotary joints) for a wide range of applications. The company’s product range includes a diverse array of rotary unions such as electrical slip rings, hydraulic rotary unions, pneumatic rotary unions, and optical rotary joints. These solutions find applications in industries including automation, packaging, printing, and robotics. The company’s emphasis on creativity and reliability is evident in its quality rotary unions that ensure seamless fluid and electrical connections in rotating systems.
Nitta Corporation is an Osaka-based manufacturer and distributor of various industrial products founded in 1885. The company offers power transmission and mechatronic products, as well as intermediate components like tubings and fittings. These are used in conveyor machines, hydraulic systems, and medical devices. The company also produces industrial parts, such as molded rubber products like gaskets or diaphragms, as well as air filters and monitoring equipment like particle counters or decontamination devices. Nitta Corporation maintains a network of manufacturing facilities and sales locations in 22 countries across four continents.
Jinpat Electronics Co. Ltd., established in 1996 and headquartered in Shenzhen, China, is a slip ring designer, manufacturer, and supplier. The company's products include a wide range of rotating electrical connectors, signal slip rings, and rotary union joints. It also offers the production of custom slip rings, with experience in the manufacture of explosion-proof, optical fiber electric, and high-current slip rings. These products are used in rotary devices, such as electric motors and generators, to transfer electrical power and signals between stationary and rotating parts of the machine. The company serves wholesale buyers and also offers full OEM and ODM services.
JiuJiang Ingiant Technology Co. Ltd., established in 2014 and headquartered in Jiangxi, China, is a slip ring and rotary joint designer, manufacturer, and supplier. The company offers a wide range of products, including pneumatic, pneumatic-electric combined solid, and high-current slip rings. It also supplies high-frequency RF rotary joints, gigabit Ethernet electrical swivels, and gas-electric hybrid slip ring transmitters. These products are essential components used in many rotary devices, including electric motors, radar antennas, and car brakes.
Product Engineering Services S.A. is a manufacturer of industrial automation systems and equipment established in 1991 and based in Saint-Ghislain, Belgium. The company offers collision sensors for maintaining the flow of traffic between material handlers on a facility floor, and robotic tool changers for passing and switching tools between fixed robot arms. It also offers end-of-arm tooling products such as grippers and pincers, and rotary unions for functioning as swivel joints. The company’s products are used mainly by clients in the industrial automation and manufacturing sectors.
SenRing Electronics Co Ltd, founded in 1998 in Shenzhen,Guangdong, China, is a Chinese supplier of electrical slip rings, signal slip rings, rotary unions, capsule slip rings, and custom products. This ISO 9001:2008 certified company works in close collaboration with research institutes and major enterprises to not only offer industrial slip rings to institutions and businesses, but also customize various slip rings to suit the client's specific needs. The company serves industries such as Aerospace, Defense, Factory Automation, Food and Beverage, Medical, and Heavy Equipment, among others.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vector Technologies Ltd |
7.4%
|
| 2 | Princetel, Inc |
6.3%
|
| 3 | DSTI |
5.3%
|
| 4 | Rotary Systems, Inc. |
4.7%
|
| 5 | United Equipment Accessories, Inc. |
4.4%
|
| 6 | Deublin Company |
4.1%
|
| 7 | S. Himmelstein and Company |
4.0%
|
| 8 | Fabricast.Inc |
3.8%
|
| 9 | Molex, LLC |
3.8%
|
| 10 | NSD Corporation |
3.5%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the slip ring 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
|
12 | 36.4% |
|
Germany
|
6 | 18.2% |
|
China
|
5 | 15.2% |
|
Japan
|
5 | 15.2% |
|
Italy
|
3 | 9.1% |
|
Switzerland
|
1 | 3.0% |
|
United Kingdom
|
1 | 3.0% |
107 products found - Page 4
107 products - Page 4
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