How to Avoid Bearing the Cost of Ownership
Bearing failures can be costly, disruptive, and, in some cases, dangerous. Understanding the true bearing cost of ownership means looking beyond the purchase price and considering long-term performance, maintenance, and reliability.
The three main reasons for bearing failure are:
- Bearing fatigue
- Incorrect lubrication
- The wrong selection of bearing type and material
Working with bearing experts can help you make the right decision the first time and stay up to date with the latest technology developments, helping to reduce bearing costs over the entire service life.
How should I choose a bearing? It’s a question we hear our customers across every sector and of every size ask.
Making key considerations at the specification stage to determine what bearing should be used in each application is essential. A well-informed choice not only improves performance but also lowers the total cost of ownership of bearings. There are three main considerations for specification success:
Bearing Type
You need to consider what type of bearing best suits the application. With plain bearings, ball bearings, roller bearings, needle bearings – the list goes on – we know it can seem overwhelming, especially when you consider that each of these categories includes numerous variations.
The majority of our customers know exactly what their bearing needs to do but require guidance on which bearing type can deliver those capabilities most effectively and cost-efficiently. This extends beyond the initial purchase price to include ongoing maintenance, service life, equipment efficiency, and the overall bearing lifetime cost.
Unrestricted to any single bearing type, unlike some suppliers, this is where we add real value through independent advice.
Material Selection
The choice of material is the next major decision – and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Plain bearings are manufactured in sintered bronze, sintered iron, copper, rolled bronze, cast bronze, various plastics, various composites, stainless steel, and advanced alloys such as BowMet®, manufactured from ToughMet®. Ball, roller, and needle bearings are available in high carbon chrome steel, stainless steel, plastic, and other specialist materials.
The bearing industry continues to evolve rapidly, with new materials constantly being developed. Working with suppliers who stock up the latest innovations ensures you benefit from improved performance and greater bearing value throughout the product’s life.
Lubrication
Where possible, bearings should be maintenance-free. Careful consideration should be given to operating speed, applied loads, corrosion, and ongoing maintenance requirements.
In sectors such as marine, for example, servicing bearings can be difficult, expensive, or even impossible because of the operating environment. In other industries, maintenance teams simply don’t have the time to lubricate bearings as frequently as required.
Fortunately, maintenance-free solutions are available, including our Oilless® and BowMet® bearing ranges. Choosing the right solution can significantly reduce bearing costs by lowering maintenance requirements and extending service life.
Look Beyond the Purchase Price
Selecting a bearing based solely on its purchase price can often prove to be a false economy. When comparing cheap vs quality bearings, it’s important to consider maintenance costs, operational reliability, downtime, and replacement frequency – not just the upfront investment.
Working with a supplier that takes a holistic approach to bearing types, materials, and application requirements will help you optimise performance while minimising the overall bearing cost of ownership and maximising long-term value.
