Despite being basic machine components, industrial bearings are essential for motion applications. By providing a surface with something to roll on rather than slide over, a bearing reduces the frictional forces between two moving parts. A bearing is made up of smooth metal balls or rollers that run against smooth inner and outer surfaces known as races. These balls or rollers serve as the device's load carrier, allowing it to spin freely. Radial and axial loads are the two types that bearings generally experience. Axial loads happen parallel to the shaft, whereas radial loads happen perpendicular to the shaft. In a sense, these components are similar to wheels in that they enable rolling, which reduces friction between the surface being rolled over and the bearing itself. Due to the decreased friction, they facilitate movement both linearly and rotary. They also boost productivity and quickness. Bearings come in a variety of designs, generally depending on whether they are intended to support thrust load, radio load, or both simultaneously. They can support weight, and the sort of load they are carrying helps to distinguish their distinctions.
Types of Industrial Bearings
The following are several categories or kinds of bearings:
Tapered Rollers -
They are designed to handle heavy radial and thrust stresses. These bearings are employed in automotive hubs due to their load adaptability. These bearings are ideal for use in the automotive sector since automobile wheels are designed to withstand very high thrust and radial loads.
Roller Thrust -
These are similar to ball thrust bearings in how they manage thrust loads. The difference between the two is the fact that roller thrust bearings can support higher thrust. These bearings are used in automobile gearboxes to sustain helical gears.
Roller Variants -
Roller bearings are the best choice when it comes to moving big weights. The main roller for dispersing the load across a larger region is a cylinder. As a result, the bearing can accommodate more weight. Due to the construction, this bearing mostly handles radial loads. The use of thrust loads is not advised. If there is a problem with space in a particular application, a needle bearing might be employed. They operate with smaller diameter cylinders and are thus more suited for smaller applications.
Ball Thrust Variants -
These bearings are often used in low-speed, low-weight applications. These kind of bearings, for instance, are used in barstools to support the seat.
Ball Variant -
The most widespread variety and one that can support both thrust and radial stresses are ball versions. They can withstand very little amounts of weight, which is unfortunate. Nevertheless, they are used in a wide range of products, including roller skates and hard drives. However, once they are overwhelmed, abnormalities are more likely to occur.
There are also bearings that are developed for special purpose alone. They come into play when one of more than one of the existing bearings cannot get the work done. Two examples of unique applications for which customised bearings are produced are giant roller bearings and magnetic bearings. Giant roller bearings are useful for moving massive structural elements, buildings, and other enormous loads. Magnetic bearings provide enhanced stability on machines that move quicker than you could ever imagine.
Top Manufacturers of Industrial Bearing in India
India is a global leader in the production and export of bearing goods. Due to the growing need for bearings across several sectors, including automotive, water pumps, fans, and others, bearing manufacturing in India has been rising significantly over the years. Ball bearings, roller bearings, and other bearings are heavily imported into India, which has historically been the top bearing importer. Each year, India imports a sizable quantity of bearing goods, many of which are sold to other nations.
1. Tata Bearings:
Tata Bearings has over the years risen to a significant and important position in its target industrial area thanks to a very performance-driven strategy. With a 37 million-number manufacturing capacity, the Tata Steel Bearings Division is one of India's major makers of quality bearings. The only producer of bearings in India to successfully contest the TPM Award from the Japan Institute of Productive Maintenance, Tokyo in 2004 is still the only one in India to have received this honour. With a commitment to the values that have made the Tata Group one of India's most vibrant and recognised business houses, giving joy and happiness to both its customers and business partners, the Division has throughout the years built a distinctive organisational culture. Kharagpur is where the manufacturing facility is situated.
2. Schaeffler India:
With four manufacturing facilities and 19 sales offices, Schaeffler, a company founded in 1962, has a significant presence in India thanks to the three well-known product names FAG, INA, and LuK. It is India's biggest manufacturer of bearings. An assorted variety of all kinds of bearings are created at their Vadodra engineering facility in Gujarat. This supplied under the FAG brand.. In Talegaon, close to Pune, Schaeffler's third cutting-edge facility produces a variety of INA-branded needle roller bearings and elements as well as other automotive parts are manufactured.
3. SAB Bearings:
SAB Bearings is a producer and supplier of various types of bearings with headquarters in Kolkata. They provide products at competitive pricing and great quality. Modern bearing systems that are renowned for their outstanding performance in the bearing business are among the goods in our selection of bearings. SAB Bearings has established a standard for its clients when it comes to assisting them in meeting their technical and business needs. This is backed by cutting-edge technology and value added services that give total assistance, right from engineering to technical support. They make certain that their items are delivered quickly and on schedule thanks to their exceptional supply chain solutions.
4. Timken India:
The first cutting-edge manufacturing plant was established in Jamshedpur in 1987 and began commercial production in 1992 in accordance with international standards. On July 2, 1999, the Company's name was changed to Timken India Limited. There are sales offices for the firm in Chennai, Bangalore, Jamshedpur, Delhi, Kolkata, and Pune. Timken has since made substantial advancements in bearing technology that have lead the industry. In order to enhance performance, fuel economy, and equipment life, Timken provides friction management solutions. Timken products and services may improve the efficiency, safety, and smoothness of operations wherever components move and rotate.
5. NTN Bearings India:
One of the biggest manufacturers of bearings worldwide is NTN. With factories all around the globe, NTN is a top provider of bearings to the industrial and automotive sectors. Some of the most recognisable industrial and automotive brand names in the globe, as well as in India, are among its clients. As a division of NTN Corporation Japan, NTN Bearing India Pvt. Ltd. offers marketing and technical assistance to NTN clients in India both directly and via a well-established network of Authorized Distributors. Our clients, who range from OEMs to MROs (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) depend on us for high-performing bearing products that boost their operations' productivity and efficiency.
6. SKF India:
In 1923, SKF built its first trade office in Kolkata, and in 1965, it opened its first production facility there in Pune. Currently, they have three production facilities, which are situated in Pune, Bangalore, and Haridwar. Added 11 sales offices around India to their firm, and now have a supply network of more than 300 wholesalers. From its beginnings as a manufacturer of ball bearings.
7. Menon Bearings:
This is Kolhapur (Maharashtra) based automotive bearing manufacturing company, with a network of highly reputed clients. Menon Bearings has fully integrated production facilities with many different technologies all under one roof to create and manufacture a large variety of essential vehicle parts with cutting-edge tribological characteristics. Their production facilities can work with a broad range of metals, coatings, features, and diameter ranges. Their production setup's cellular structure provides flexibility for small batches while still taking advantage of the economies of scale. Each year, they produce 8 million thrust washers, 40 million bushes, and 28 million bearings.
Conclusion
Industrial bearings are one of the most important machines that drive any industry. They ensure movement in different directions and also reduced friction. In India, we are still the world’s largest importer of bearings, and thus many foreign companies have set up their manufacturing plants in India. All of these bearing manufacturers have their local Indian manufacturing hubs, along with an extensive range of Industrial Bearing suppliers that ensure delivery to every corner of the country. Given the growing demand, there is a big space that can be filled up in industrial bearing domain, by utilizing the Make in India scheme.
FAQ's: Industrial Bearings
Q. What is an Industrial Bearing?
Ans: Industrial bearings are miniature tools used to provide motion at reduced friction for machine parts.
Q. Can an Industrial bearing be recycled?
Ans: Yes, given the most of the bearings use metallic parts, after the life of these parts, they can be melted and reforged into more machine parts.
Q. How do I know the end of life of bearings on my machine?
Ans: The end of life of any bearing will result in high vibrations, noise and production of heat.
