Latest Trends in Industrial Bearings

Bearings are critical parts that are used almost in every machinery and industry. They help to reduce friction, support load, maintain alignment, and transmit power, and therefore, facilitate smooth equipment operation. By 2019, the bearing market was valued at around $107 billion, and it is expected to continue growing and hit $143 billion by 2027. Here is a closer look at the latest trends that are shaping the bearing market.

What is Driving the Global Bearing Demand?

Although the demand for bearings has always been high because of their diverse applications, recent growth has largely been supplemented by different factors, such as the use of electric vehicles, rolling mills and the development of modern high-efficiency electronic gadgets. For example, the emergence of sensor bearing units in electric cars and the sharp rise in the adoption of additive manufacturing techniques have continued to intensify the demand for bearings across the globe.  Other sectors helping to drive the demand for bearings include:

• Industrial automation and robotics.
• Mining industry.
• Construction sector.
• Electrical niche.
• Health industry.
• Aerospace engineering.

Bearing Customizations

One of the rapidly growing trends, especially in the auto and aerospace sectors, is the need for customization. Manufacturers are particularly looking for integrated bearings, where the surrounding parts are part of the bearing. The primary goal of this design is to cut down the process of assembly, which can often result in errors and damages. Bearing manufacturers are now shifting their focus to be able to meet the new demand for customized bearings, which is expected to continue in the coming years.

Life Prediction and Monitoring

Bearing manufacturers are now turning to sophisticated software tools to assist them in matching bearings with actual working conditions. Using advanced computer analysis, it is now possible to predict the bearing life and performance more effectively than any other time in the past.

The amplified focus on life prediction is being pushed by the market demand for quality, especially for high-value products. For example, companies designing drones, fighter jets, and electric cars want to know how long a bearing can work optimally when used with specific tools and equipment (such as motors). There is no room for error.

Bearing condition monitoring is also being used to help review other equipment parameters for early fault detection. It is because of this that manufacturers are now focused on designing smart bearings that can communicate with other sensors, such as programmable logic controllers, for progressive diagnostics.

Bearing Materials and Coatings

Today, advances in materials quality have made it possible to increase the operating life of bearings and enhance the performance of the respective equipment. Whether you have pumps, conveyor belts, or machining tools running in severe condition, hardened bearings make it possible for them to last longer. Some of the hard coatings being used on bearings include specialty steel and ceramics. In addition to hardened materials, the bearings are heat-treated to help them withstand high temperatures and cope with particle contamination and corrosion.

The bearings market is taking shape after the slight slump of 2020 and early 2021, which was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Bearing customizations, coating with new and harder materials and smart bearings are expected to dominate the market in the coming decade or several. Indeed, they are being considered as the new benchmarks that will define the new generation bearings.