High Temperature Bearings Solutions
When bearings fail in extreme conditions, production stops and costs can spiral out of control fast. We've spent years solving these exact problems for manufacturers who can't afford downtime. Downtime is detrimental for most facilities. We’ve found the best way to demonstrate our capabilities isn't through technical specifications alone. But it's through the challenging projects we've successfully delivered and the lessons learned from real-world applications.
Our expertise spans numerous critical areas:
- We select the right materials for bearings operating in high temperature conditions
- We carefully manage thermal expansion issues in harsh industrial settings
- We find suitable alternatives when your current bearings are no longer being made
- We work around the frustrating minimum order requirements that many larger suppliers impose
- We support demanding sectors such as nuclear, motorsports, clean rooms, and even industrial processing
Real World Projects That Define Our Expertise
Industrial Food Production Equipment
We worked with a leading can-making machinery manufacturer experiencing a critical issue which threatened their production line. This can be costly. The bearings in their industrial ovens, and in particular their can drying systems were failing prematurely due to extreme heat exposure and constant thermal cycling.
The problem required more than simply replacing like-for-like. We had to carefully analyze the thermal expansion characteristics of every mating component in the assembly and then select bearing materials with compatible coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE). We then matched the multiple materials within the assembly, and specified appropriate high temperature lubrication systems.
By completely eliminating the thermal stress that was causing premature failure, we delivered extended bearing life, reduced unplanned downtime, and significantly improved production efficiency. This project demonstrates our approach perfectly.
Industrial Gas Turbine Applications
Working with gas turbine manufacturers has taught us that precision matters at every level. These demanding environments require bearings that can withstand extreme temperatures. All whilst maintaining dimensional stability under continuous operation. Our experience in material selection and thermal management has proved invaluable. Simply put, we keep these critical systems running reliably when failure simply isn't an option.
Discuss your high temperature application with our specialists
The Problems We Solve Every Day
We've lost count of how many bearing failures could have been avoided with proper lubricant selection. Temperature, speed, load, and environment all play crucial roles. Even getting one wrong leads to premature failure. We help you get it right from the start, saving the cost and disruption of trial and error.
Not all bearings are created equal. We've helped numerous clients who initially specified standard materials for high temperature applications. The clients faced repeated failures and mounting costs. Our material expertise makes sure you get the right bearing, the first time.
All too often manufacturers discontinue products. When this happens, we don't leave you stranded searching for alternatives. We reverse engineer obsolete bearings and provide replacements.This improves the performance characteristics compared to the original specification.
Dealing with major bearing brands means navigating prohibitive minimum order quantities and lengthy lead times. Many times, these don't align with your production needs. We pride ourselves on being more flexible and responsive. We help you get the bearings you need when you need them. This allows you to free up valuable capital in excessive stock levels.
What Real-World Installation Has Taught Us
Years of practical bearing installation have taught us many valuable lessons. These lessons are aren't covered in technical manuals or manufacturer catalogues:
- Thermal expansion varies between theoretical calculations and actual operating conditions
- The interaction between different materials in an assembly can make or break performance in high temperature applications
- Standard lubrication charts don't always account for specific industrial processes
- Sometimes the best solution isn't the most expensive bearing; it's understanding the complete system and how everything works together
When you need thermal performance combined with reduced weight and enhanced properties, explore our specialist hybrid ceramic bearing solutions. These deliver outstanding results in extreme conditions.
Extreme Environments Are Our Speciality
We maintain broad expertise across bearing applications. As a result, we've developed particular knowledge in demanding environments including:
- Nuclear applications where reliability and material compatibility are non-negotiable
- Motorsport where performance under extreme conditions is paramount
- Clean room environments where contamination control is critical
- High temperature industrial processes where thermal management separates success from failure
Our Commitment to Quality and Standards
We're currently working towards ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D:2016 certifications. This demonstrates our commitment to quality management systems. This commitment meets general industrial and aerospace standards and supports everything we do.
Where We Excel
Our expertise lies in applications requiring:
- High temperature performance
- Thermal expansion management
- Custom material selection for specific environments
- Solutions for obsolete or hard-to-source bearings
- Flexible supply arrangements that work for your business
