New precision bearings set for take-off at DSEI 2019

On the eve of DSEI, Carter Bearings, one of the UK’s best-known suppliers of high precision aerospace, defence and space system bearings has announced the arrival of two new additions to its portfolio.

The company states that both are likely to be of significant interest to designers, specifiers and users in the aerospace and defence sectors, and that they will be available to view for the first time when unveiled at DSEI.

Abingdon-based Carter has welcomed the arrival of the Aurora Bearing Company’s range of precision rod ends, spherical bearings and bushes to complement its already extensive inventory of premium quality precision bearing solutions. Used by both military and civilian operators worldwide, Aurora rod ends, bushes and bearings are supplied to ISO9001/2015 and AS9100D standards and can be seen on the Carter Bearings stand (S9-171) at DSEI.

Aurora products are specified extensively by a powerful portfolio of primary international defence and aerospace contractors including Boeing, Lockheed, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and NASA. Now, with the new agreement in place with Carter Bearings, UK and European OEMs have local access to the extensive Aurora portfolio and application database. A variety of special materials and coatings can be specified on many Aurora products, and the new range joins other premium-quality brands on which Carter Bearings has built its reputation for high-end bearing engineering and application excellence in so many advanced technology industry sectors.

Concurrent with the arrival of the new Aurora range, Carter Bearings is also using DSEI 2019 to launch an important new addition to its own Unasis range of bespoke aerospace bearing tools. The company has created a useful new tool kit designed specifically for aerospace bearing installation, repair and maintenance users, both civilian and military. Included in the kit are all the necessary (and calibrated/certificated) specialist tools required to remove, install, swage, torque, measure and calibrate a variety of the most popular aviation bearing types and sizes, either in the field or in the workshop.

According to Carter’s managing director Karl Brundell, the new Unasis bearing installation and maintenance tool kit is designed for both workshop use and as an onboard resource for aircraft operations where line engineering might not be available. The company states that the presence of its new aerospace bearing kit on board could prevent a bearing-related AOG situation from developing.

“It isn’t just the technical competence, comprehensive content or quality of our tool kit that counts most sometimes, it is the fact that an otherwise U/S fixed or rotary wing aircraft can remain operational should a bearing failure occur in a place without ready access to an FBO, MU or line workshop,” he stated.

In addition to the new arrivals, DSEI visitors will also be able to see, evaluate and discuss a variety of additional defence and aerospace special bearings and associated products which are also available from Carter Bearings. These include custom and aerospace bearings from Napoleon Engineering Services, special thin-section bearings from Silverthin, hybrid, plastic, ceramic and ultra-high temperature bearings manufactured by Unasis, lightweight aluminium slewing rings (also from Unasis) and Cobra Industries graphite solid-fill bearing lubricants, amongst more. Bearings from Carter Manufacturing are extensively used throughout both military and civilian airframes and engines in applications that include flap runners, gear, slat and flap actuation systems, rotor masts, radar platforms, seats, engine mounts et al.

Of especial interest to DSEI visitors will be Carter Bearings ongoing partnership with Silverthin, said to be world leaders in the design and manufacture of ultra-high precision thin-section bearings. Used across a wide section of defence, aircraft and space system applications, all Silverthin bearings are manufactured in the US under the Berry amendment. The range of bearing types, sizes and options is extensive and encompasses many sizes with angular, radial and four-point contacts as required.