Looking for the right bearings supplier? Five questions to ask before starting your search

Are you finding it hard to find a good bearings supplier in the U.S.? With over 1,000 bearings suppliers in the country, serving numerous industries, it's hard to know where to start. Chances are there are several who meet your exact specifications, and asking a few key questions can help narrow down your search. Here are some factors to consider when searching for the right bearings supplier:

Does the supplier offer precision machining or customization?

You may find yourself in need of a non-typical bearing type and require customization of precision machining services. Several companies have this capacity. Intercontinental Bearing Supply Company of Houston, for example, has extensive engineering and customization services with high-quality performance, fast delivery, and low cost.

Kilian Manufacturing Company of Syracuse, New York is the largest producer of precision-machined bearings and value-added assemblies. Their bearings feature designs tailored to your needs in quantities as small as 5,000 units. Kilian's precision machining will turn your design specifications into low-cost high quality, durable, and reliable bearings.

Does the supplier have a clean room or lubrication services?

Clean room and lubrication services are essential to remove excess oil from bearings. Manufacturers also use vacuum impregnation to force lubricant into the bearing cage. Bearing Service & Supply of Shreveport, Louisiana, for example, offers lubrication equipment repair both in-house and through mobile lube-trucks or lube-carts to set up at your plant or work site.

Is the supplier ISO certified?

Most bearing supply companies are ISO certified. Multiple certifications are good indicators of a high-quality manufacturer. IBSCO, Kilian, and Nova/TCB have several certifications, including AS 9100 and ISO 9001:2008 Standards.

Can the supplier provide just-in-time (JIT) services?

Nova/TCB of Powell, Tennessee, for example, typically warehouses six to eight weeks of stock in its facility, which alleviates the risk of delayed shipment while promoting JIT services. This is especially important when dealing with offshore entities.

What's the supplier's inventory like? What bearing types does the supplier offer?

Schaeffler Group USA of Fort Mill, South Carolina offers many different types of bearings, such as rolling bearings, spherical plain bearings, plain bearings, and linear products. They supply bearings for applications in over 60 industrial sectors with the majority in the automotive sector.

IndustryNet understands how challenging it is to find a bearings supplier, and we're here to help. Listing everything from precision bearings and ball bearings to babbitt bearings and bearing pads, our free online industrial marketplace can connect you with the most suitable company for your needs. Search by bearing type, geographic location, ISO standards, and more. Visit IndustryNet's list of bearing suppliers to start your search today!