BNL (UK) Ltd

Our Bearings

There are a number of good reasons for choosing thermoplastic bearings over traditional steel bearings. They are lighter, smoother, quieter and more resistant to chemical attack and corrosion. Plastic bearings can also be moulded to any shape to meet your design requirements, and most of the time they are cheaper than steel bearings. Most importantly, they are far more resistant to wear than their steel counterparts. 

These are just some of the reasons why they are being used by so many OEMs and in so many applications. You can find out more about the benefits of using plastic bearings by visiting BNL online. 

Standard Plastic Bearings

BNL is a service company offering plastic bearing design and manufacture for OEMs throughout the UK and beyond. We listen to your design requirements and provide tailor-made solutions. However, we also offer a comprehensive range of standard plastic bearings and assemblies designed to meet most general bearing requirements. They include:

• A selection of radial bearing sizes
• Thrust race bearings
• Two-bolt flanged bearings
• Full complement bearings
• Miniature bearings
• Wheels for poultry processing
• End caps and skate wheels for conveyor systems
• Pulleys
• UHMWPE and PEEK bearings for applications exposed to high temperatures and chemicals
• Specialist bearings, wheels and rollers for use in LCD screen processing equipment

ATM & Cash Handling Applications

There are a good many ways in which our plastic bearings can be put to use, but one of the most common is in ATMs and other cash candling applications. The BNL design team has accumulated a considerable amount of experience in this area and can offer a number of solutions for the transportation of bank notes through cash dispensers and high-speed sorting and validation machines. Primary design considerations for such applications are reliability, corrosion-resistance, low friction and static elimination. Using advanced injection moulding techniques and top quality thermoplastic materials, we’re able to ensure all of these properties are covered.

Automotive Applications

Automotive applications in which our plastic bearings are commonly used include steering columns, roof racks and rotating emergency vehicle warning lights. As well as being ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004 accredited, BNL Ltd has achieved the global automotive standard ISO/TS 16949/2002, making us well placed to meet the stringent quality standards demanded by the automotive industry. Find out more about our automotive bearing assemblies by visiting BNL online.

LCD Manufacture

BNL designs and manufactures a variety of plastic bearing solutions that form part of the shaft assemblies used to move glass sheets in the processing of LCD screens. This application demands excellent chemical resistance, high reliability and the capacity to operate efficiently in extreme temperatures and when exposed to static electricity. To meet these requirements we produce wheels with races manufactured from Acetal, UHMWPE, PTFE and Peek, fitted with balls of stainless steel, glass or ceramic. More information can be found on our website and in our product catalogue.

Mail Handling Applications

At BNL we have a wealth of experience in the design and manufacture of bearings for mail handling and sorting applications. Our solutions for this market include spring-loaded bearings, sliding assemblies, bearings with snap-fit features, paper transport assemblies, kickers for sheet preparation, nip rollers, shaft assemblies and much more. Chief design requirements usually include reduced vibration, noise and inertia, especially for high-speed and high volume commercial mail handling applications. High grip is another key consideration. To produce bearings that offer high grip but low friction we use a range of specialised coatings. Find out more by visiting BNL online.

Photocopiers & Printers

BNL engineers have more than 10 years experience in the challenging market of paper path management, and in that time have developed numerous lightweight and cost-effective plastic bearing solutions for various industry-leading OEMs involved in the production of photocopiers and printers. Such applications require components that are resistant to high temperature and which are protected against dust. Our bearing assemblies offer both, making them especially suited to large, multi-function photocopiers and printers that need to operate at high speeds over long periods of time.

Pool Cleaners

With their low friction and corrosion-resistant properties, our plastic bearing assemblies are ideal for use in pool cleaning products. Indeed, many of the world’s leading pool cleaner manufacturers rely on BNL to provide reliable and cost-effective components for their products. Our bearings are made from thermoplastic materials that minimise water absorption and which are fully resistant to the typical cleaning and sanitising agents used in pool maintenance. They are also made with our patented Free Flow bearing technology, which helps to reduce debris clogging and allows fluids to flow freely through the bearing.

Poultry Processing

BNL has been producing custom-designed wheels for food processing conveyor systems for more than three decades. Our thermoplastic ball bearing wheels are designed to meet the requirements of each individual system, providing excellent chemical resistance during “washdowns” whilst optimising the performance and service life of the systems themselves. They are quiet, reliable, offer low friction and require very little maintenance. Find out more about our plastic bearing wheels for the food processing industries by visiting BNL online.

Roof Ventilation

At BNL, we regularly design and produce low friction, high performance plastic ball bearings for roof turbine manufacturers. North America’s largest roofing and ventilation manufacturer GAF Materials Corporation is just one of the companies to have acknowledged an improved level of performance in their rotary roof turbines when fitted with a suite of custom-designed plastic bearing assemblies from BNL. Our ability to develop bearings that can ensure continuous, optimal performance under high winds and extreme weather is a testament to our engineering prowess.

Satellite Antennae

Offering low friction, high stability and excellent wear rates, our plastic bearing assemblies meet all the requirements of satellite antennae manufacturers. Being corrosion resistant, they are also far more suitable for outdoor applications than conventional steel bearings. BNL supplies plastic bearing solutions to many leading marine antennae and in-motion satellite communications companies – they rely on us for components that ensure steady, careful movement and which offer high durability under harsh environmental conditions. Find out more by visiting BNL online.

Security Applications

BNL is an established supplier of Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) components, providing high quality, cost-effective solutions to many of the world’s leading security camera manufacturers. The design staff here at BNL have a wealth of experience designing plastic bearing PTZ products and are particularly skilled in adding integrated features to reduce the number of components needed for assembly (thus reducing costs). PTZ systems need to be light, quiet, and stable enough to operate in harsh weather conditions. They also need to be low maintenance, which makes plastic bearings the obvious choice (since they benefit from low fiction and do not require lubrication).

Showers

Being both chemical and corrosion resistant, BNL’s plastic bearings are ideal for a range of water-related applications. For a number of years now BNL has been creating plastic bearing solutions designed to meet the challenges of the shower enclosures sector. Today we are a recognised supplier of quality components for doors, screens, panels and water jets. 

BNL has worked with many of the major shower enclosure manufacturers to produce components that minimise noise, improve movement and reduce installation time. Our solutions range from fully adjustable pivot assemblies with twin-shot moulded wheels and plated caps to simple wheel runners with brass inners. 

Spa Jets

We have a wealth of experience in the design and manufacture of rotating, radial plastic ball bearings for spa jet housings, and can develop solutions to meet the individual needs of each customer. The incorporation of our patented Free Flow technology enables water and debris (which usually obstructs the bearing) to flow through the system unimpeded, thus allowing a consistent and precise flow of water through the product. Capable of handling high pressures and temperatures, BNL ball bearing assemblies with Free Flow technology are also ideal for use in dishwashers, high-pressure washers and other similar applications.

Audio Visual Equipment

Another area of expertise for BNL is the design and manufacture of plastic bearing assemblies for TV, speaker and educational/conference equipment mounting systems. Our custom-developed components are integral to the functionality of some of the most sophisticated systems on the market, allowing audio-visual equipment to be positioned smoothly, safely and conveniently for maximum end-user enjoyment. Find out more about our plastic bearing assemblies for the audio-visual market by visiting BNL online.

Blinds & Awnings

BNL offers a variety of solutions for this market, from hardwearing, heavy-duty plastic curtain runners to lightweight, precision-engineered designs for built-in blind systems. We also use these same technologies for the movement of sports curtains, sliding walls and partitions. To find out more, head over to our website or get in touch directly on 01423 799200.