Originally formed in 1985 to cater for a growing demand for miniature ball bearings and small ball bearings in the UK, SMB Bearings has grown over the years to become a major specialist supplier worldwide. We have expanded the range slightly from the original miniature ball bearing and small ball bearing range but are still very much specialists in our field. We still concentrate on a fairly narrow range of ball bearing types. We continue to supply miniature ball bearings and instrument ball bearings but we have added stainless steel bearings, plastic bearings and electric motor bearings. Being specialists allows us to know our products better and serve you more effectively. Most of the miniature bearing, stainless steel bearing and thin section bearing range is supplied either in high precison EZO brand or, for low cost applications, SMB China brand. EZO are a well respected and highly reputable Japanese manufacturer of precision miniature bearings, thin section bearings and stainless steel bearings and our association with them goes back many years to the first days of SMB Bearings.

Miniature Bearings
This is a range of miniature ball bearings from 0.6mm bore upwards (plus inch sizes). These include miniature radial ball bearings (including the smaller instrument bearngs) and miniature thrust ball bearings. The range encompasses both metric and inch miniature bearings, miniature flanged bearings and miniature extended inner ring bearings while for specialist applications, ceramic bearings and hybrid bearings are available in many sizes. We supply miniature bearings for a wide variety of uses including instrumentation, small motors, gearboxes, fishing reels, cycles, skates, skateboards and inline skates. We stock radio control model ball bearings for radio control cars, helicopters and engines, in fact most model engineering applications.

Stainless Steel Bearings
Stainless steel ball bearings are available from 0.6mm bore up to 50mm bore or inch equivalent. Most of the range of miniature bearings and thin section bearings are also available in 440 grade stainless steel. The larger "popular metric" stainless steel bearings are from 10mm bore up to 40mm bore and often used in the food industry or for high temperature applications. We can also supply 316 grade stainless steel bearings in many sizes but these may need to be made to order.

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.