Originally founded in 1985, SMB Bearings has grown over the years to become a major specialist supplier worldwide. We began by catering to a growing demand for miniature ball bearings and small ball bearings in the UK, specializing in the original micro ball bearing, miniature ball bearing and small ball bearing range. Over time we have expanded our inventory to include other popular, consumer-requested options such as stainless steel bearings, plastic bearings and electric motor bearings. Being specialists allows us to know our products better and serve you more effectively; our expanded, consumer-driven selection provides the versatility you need for a broader range of applications. Most of our micro/miniature bearings, stainless steel bearings and thin section bearings are supplied through either the high-precision EZO brand or the low-cost SMB China brand, which is designed for mass-market applications. We are proud of our partnerships with both companies, but particularly with EZO, a well-respected and highly reputable Japanese precision manufacturer we’ve been dealing with since the first days of SMB Bearings.

Miniature Bearings / Micro Bearings
This is a range of miniature ball bearings or mini bearings that start with micro ball bearings featuring a 0.6mm bore up to 9mm bore (plus inch equivalents). These include miniature and micro radial ball bearings (including the smaller instrument bearings) and miniature thrust ball bearings. The range features both metric and inch equivalents for micro bearings, miniature bearings, miniature flanged bearings and miniature extended inner ring bearings.
For specialty applications, we also carry ceramic bearings and hybrid bearings in many sizes. Customers use our bearings for a wide variety of purposes, including instrumentation, small motors, gearboxes, fishing reels, cycles, skates, skateboards and inline skates. We also stock model bearings for radio control cars, helicopters and engines, and most other model engineering applications.

Plastic Ball Bearings
Plastic bearings can be supplied from 6mm bore up to 25mm bore from stock and even larger sizes of plastic bearing can be supplied to order. Generally made from acetal resin with 316 stainless steel balls or glass balls, plastic bearings are used where greater corrosion resistance is required.

Thin Section Ball Bearings
Thin section bearings can be supplied from 10mm bore up to 50mm bore. Many of the miniature bearings are also thin section bearings but the term generally applies to 10mm bore and upwards.

Electric Motor Bearings
Electric motor ball bearings are designed to run with low noise and vibration for any noise critical application. The term "Electric Motor Bearing" is often loosely used which is why our electric motor ball bearings have been tested in comparison with leading brands.

Supply from Stock
Over the years we have developed extensive product knowledge and offer technical help with all apsects of our range. We keep comprehensive stocks across the whole range so offer a same day despatch worldwide on most sizes if required. We receive incoming shipments every week so stocks are always changing. For the most up to date stock situation on any item, please contact us.

Relubrication
Our relubrication facility has been in operation for over 15 years allowing us to provide miniature bearings, stainless steel bearings, thin section bearings and electric motor bearings with any one of a wide range of lubricants from oils and greases to dry lubricants or no lubricant at all. In addition to cleaning and re-lubricating bearings with a range of customer specified oils and greases, we also have the facility to treat bearing raceways with molybdenum disulphide for vacuum applications. We re-lubricate our own bearings and customer supplied bearings every day. The benenfit of having an in-house operation means we can supply you with small quantities, quickly. Our customers find this particularly useful for urgent, small or one-off requirements or sample approval although we regularly deal with larger quantities too.