We have taken steps to remain
your reliable partner in this challenging economic climate. Read
further about one of our more unique product lines - precision thin
section bearings.
During this time of economic uncertainty, all of us
have watched as companies across the business spectrum have struggled,
and in some cases been forced to sell everything and close their doors.
From Bear Stearns back in March 2008, when the economic downturn was
still not on most people's radar, to the bailout of General Motors,
weakness has been found in many places where it would have been
unthinkable only a few years back.
The bearing industry has not been immune to the
economic hardships of the past year. Most of the major manufacturers
have been forced into layoffs and reductions in capacity. As in the case
of Timken's sale of the Fafnir needle bearing line last month, this
downturn has seen the sale of entire product groups, and in some cases a
few smaller companies have been completely sold off to competitors.
While there has not been a major business failure in the bearing world,
there are changes in our industry that suggest growing weakness among
some participants.
Most companies in today's environment take extra
care to assure they are partnered with suppliers that are strong and
viable long term. Evaluating the financial health of an entire supply
chain can be as much a part of a company's quality assurance, as is
evaluating the material and products that chain provides. With nearly 30
years in the bearing industry, National Precision Bearing is
experienced in choosing strong partners and sources for long term
success. In late 2007 and early 2008 our company began a process of
reorganizing that prepared us for growth in a difficult environment.
While not immune to the downturn, we have not experienced the same
weakness a number of bearing industry participants have over the past
year. National remains a strong link in the supply chain of many of the
world's major Aerospace, Medical, and Industrial manufacturers. If we
are one of your partner suppliers we look forward to supporting your
growth and success for many years to come.
Tom Koetje - Manager of NPB Product
Thin section bearings are a
family of bearings designed from a limited number of widths and
thicknesses (cross sections), with each cross section manufactured in a
wide range of bore diameters. Most radial ball bearings are designed so
that as the bore size increases, the width and the thickness of the
bearing change proportionately. In the case of thin section bearings the
cross section remains the same as the bore diameter increases. The thin
section bearing family is made up of 12 primary cross section sets
ranging from 3/16" to 1" and with bore sizes ranging from 1" to over
40". The combination of a large bore diameter in proportion to the small
cross section makes these parts appear "thin" in comparison to standard
ball bearings. Thin section bearings are made from 52100 chrome steel
and 440C stainless steel. They can also be coated with platings like
thin dense chrome. Some sizes can be configured with seals or shields.
Thin section bearings are also made in one of three different contact
styles; radial contact, angular contact, and four point contact. These
options, along with several ball and retainer types make for a diverse
range of parts even among the limited cross sections of the thin section
bearing family.
| Thin section bearings help reduce
total cost in a system by allowing for design efficiency over standard
bearing sizes. Because thin section bearings have cross sections that
don't change as bore sizes increase, there needs to be no change in the
space requirements, and little change in the weight of the bearing, even
as the diameter of an application increases. Especially in the case of
medical equipment, airborne optical and infrared scanning equipment, and
robotics, the space and weight requirements of a system are major
factors in the overall design and manufacturing cost. In many cases, the
price of a thin section bearing is higher than a standard bearing with a
similar bore size, but application and design savings due to reduced
space and lower weight decrease the total cost in the application.
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If you have questions about a new or existing thin section
bearing design please contact your National Precision Bearing or
SilverThin Bearing sales representative.
https://www.nationalprecision.com/sales/
Please click here to see our SilverThin Stock List: https://www.nationalprecision.com/pdf.php?pdf=SilverThin_StockList_Thin_Section_Bearing.pdf
For complete company information, please visit: www.silverthin.com
Kevin McNulty - Sales Manager, SilverThin Bearing
Group
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