Bearing selection: Quality matters

In many manufacturing and processing situations, the bearing will usually be the most precise engineered component within a system. Some would say that bearings take on the importance of a highly engineered commodity with a myriad of requirements across the globe.

While seeking lower cost bearings may seem a good idea, the result may be premature failure during a vital operation with the obvious implications of plant shutdown, lost production and unscheduled maintenance costs.

Working with suppliers that guarantee a high standard of product with quality assurance systems is advisable. Careful examination of the specification and consideration of how the bearing will perform to meet expectations is vitally important.

Buyers should always go for the best quality their budget will allow and, if working with distributors, ensure that they possess the right level of technical ability to support them and their product. High technical competence will also be invaluable as under- or over-specification can cause a range of operational problems and may lead to inefficiency and increased energy costs in some circumstances.  

Major brand manufacturers and distributors with ISO 9001 accreditation demonstrate they are committed to high quality as well as providing good value for money. 

Another important area is traceability. Most customers these days will demand a bearing that has full traceability from where and when it was made, from the raw materials, right through to the component assembly of the final bearing. This should be a pre-requisite for many organisations when sourcing bearings.

Any apparent savings from lower cost, unbranded products will all too soon be eroded when any bearing failures have to be rectified. For those supplying manufacturing machinery, loss of reputation is also a potential outcome and is something that cannot easily be repaired and regained afterwards.

Maintenance and testing

Regular maintenance is essential for the prevention of failure and downtime and planning for potential replacements and spares is important. Keeping critical items as part of the spares kit is a good idea, but if this is not possible ensuring the supplier holds the right stock level will go a long way to avoiding any problems.

Bearings that are thoroughly tested will ensure the customers’ confidence in what they are buying. For example, quality distributors will supply products from recognised manufacturers which have their own in-house metallurgy departments and research facilities where products are extensively tested, so that customers can have absolute confidence in the bearings they are purchasing. 

Probably most important when selecting bearings is to carefully assess the application they are to be used for. Bearings can be used for something as simple as a skateboard to a highly complicated aerospace application and while the product principle will be the same, the actual demands are worlds apart. Care needs to be taken to ‘design in’ a number of elements such as the overall size, speed and load it will need to handle as well as the direction of load. 

The environment that a bearing has to run in will affect is performance. Dirty and dusty applications will require adequate sealing, and those in the food industry may require stainless steel bearings that cope better with aggressive wash down procedures. High temperatures create their own special challenges and these need to be factored into the selection process. 

When purchasing bearings, confidence in the product, the manufacturer and distributor is key for complete peace of mind. Working with those who have the experience and knowledge to help find the best solution will be time and money well spent.