GGB tribological solutions move the industrial world one step closer to the future. Our products are used in tens of thousands of critical applications every day—around the planet. Our goal is to provide reliable, maintenance-free surface solutions for almost any application—no matter where those demands take our products.
GGB's diverse polymer coating solutions encompass some of the most state-of-the-art coating technologies available. Our TriboShield® product line includes seven standard formulations that cover the full spectrum of mechanical, thermal and chemical capabilities offered by today's coating materials. They can also be applied to nearly any surface, regardless of shape or material, making their potential almost endless. And when it comes to working with and enhancing the performance of your existing bearing and polymer coatings solutions, our TriboMate product line is specifically designed to be paired up— all leading to enhanced performance.
The excellent low friction and high wear resistance performance of GGB metal-polymer bearings make them ideal for hundreds of applications in numerous and diverse industries. Depending upon application requirements, metal-polymer composite bearings can be produced in many shapes and sizes.
GGB's Engineered Plastic Polymer bearings provide excellent wear resistance and low friction in both dry and lubricated operating conditions over a wide range of applications. Engineered plastic bearings are made from thermoplastic bearing material processed by injection moulding. This production method enables us to produce unlimited dimensions in accordance to our standard, and also parts with special designs and features.
GGB's Fiber Reinforced Composite products typically consists of a filament-wound, fiberglass-impregnated, epoxy backing with a variety of low-friction wear-resistant bearing linings. These self-lubricating fiber reinforced composite bearings are particularly effective in applications where the relative motion is not sufficient to promote circulation of the oil or grease used with more conventional bearings. GGB Fiber Reinforced Composite bearings are available as bushes, plates, bearing segments and special forms, depending on the particular material type.
Bimetal and metal bearings offer excellent corrosion resistance in industrial outdoor applications and in water, marine and offshore environments. GGB offers a broad range of sizes, forms and materials in monometallic and bimetallic bearings.
Engineered as a solution to conquer misalignment reduction when high demands are placed on bearings, GGB's UNI, MINI and EXALIGN® self-aligning shaft bearing assemblies offer improved equipment performance under standard bearing assemblies by reducing stress and friction. Offering superior performance in a wide variety of applications, GGB's self-aligning assemblies are available in both standard and custom configurations.
GGB has been putting the world in motion for over 120 years with industry-leading tribological bearings, coatings and assemblies. From Polymer Coatings and Metal-Polymer bearings to Fiber Reinforced Composite bearings and self-aligning shaft bearing assemblies, our solutions are specifically designed to reduce friction and optimize performance and durability.
Tribology is the science of wear, friction and lubrication, and encompasses how interacting surfaces and other tribo-elements behave in relative motion in natural and artificial systems. This includes bearing design and lubrication.
GGB’s TriboU is intended to provide the working engineer, who may or may not be a user of GGB’s surface engineered solutions, to understand and implement basic tribological concepts in the design, manufacture and use of industrial equipment.
At GGB, we aren’t afraid to take risks for our customers. We are passionate about the work we do and believe that same passion contributes to the level of innovation that can enhance human potential. We take pride in working closely with customers in the early stage of a design to think broadly and boldly, and to expand beyond traditional surface engineered solutions. We offer reliable partnerships based on trust, compassion, determination, collaboration and respect.
GGB seeks out collaborative, long-term relationships with each one of our customers. Our diverse expertise gives us a deep understanding of the challenges you face. When you partner with us early, our GGB engineering team is able to review your assemblies and make sure both the bearing and surrounding components are optimized for performance and cost-effectiveness.
We have been providing high-performance bearings to the aerospace industry for more than 50 years.
Today all major manufacturers of commercial and military aircraft, both fixed- and rotary-wing, and their Tier-1 suppliers look to us or lightweight, maintenance-free bearings to reduce fuel and labor costs.
Among the aerospace applications in which our bearings are used are aircraft landing gear struts, or shock absorbers, where they eliminate ladder cracking and heat damage on the strut rod surface. One of the world’s leading commercial aircraft manufacturers has specified our DU-B bronze-backed, metal-polymer bearings for all current production. OD-wrapped and sleeve bearings were specified on the basis of their uniform friction and wear properties, high load capabilities, resistance to corrosion and increased component life.
Steel-backed DU® bearings, both custom and standard, are also used in the landing gear and flight control systems of military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, as well as in the wing flap actuators of personal jets. In both applications, the aircraft-proven bearings provide high load capacity, space and weight reduction, and long service life.
Another GGB bronze-backed, metal-polymer bearing, DP4-B, is used in the landing gear struts of large military transport planes. In this application, the bearings provide stiction-free performance, low friction and high wear resistance, while being subjected to numerous small oscillations and extreme operating temperatures, ranging from -54°C to +110°C (-65°F to +230°F). The DP4-B self-lubricating plain bearings perform particularly well under intermittent operation with reciprocating or oscillating movements, and their bronze backings make them corrosion-resistant.
DP4-B self-lubricating bearings are also used in rotary aircraft applications, such as the hydraulic mechanisms that allow the blades of helicopters to fold, where they provide greaseless, maintenance-free performance for up to 5,000 folding cycles. In addition DU-B bearings are used in the pivots that lock and unlock the lifting winches on large commercial and military transport helicopters. Exposed to operational and environmental extremes, the bearings are providing 15 years of heavy usage with no maintenance required.
Our DX® metal-polymer bearings are used in the uplocks for missile launchers on jet fighter aircraft. Here the bearings are subjected to extreme temperatures and the oscillating movements of the connecting rods that join the support shoes on the missile to the support structure on the aircraft. The DX® grease lubricated bearings provide optimum performance under relatively high loads and low speeds.
Airport ground support equipment features our HSG (High-Strength Gar-Max®) fiber reinforced composite bearings in scissor lift type applications, involving significant loads, intermittent operation and often harsh environmental conditions. Offering higher compressive strength and more consistent friction than greased bronze bearings, the HSG composite PTFE bearings are abrasion- and corrosion-resistant for extended service.
Other aerospace applications in which our bearings are used include hydraulic fuel pumps; anti-flail bushings in the U.S. Joint Forces tilt-rotor aircraft; and wing de-icing systems for commercial aircraft.
GGB EP® engineered plastic bearings are also used in a variety of interior applications, including seating, overhead storage compartments and galley fixtures.
GGB DU® self-lubricating aerospace bearings have even traveled to Mars aboard NASA’s Curiosity rover, which explored the surface of the planet to investigate if conditions may have been conducive to life. For more information about GGB aerospace bearings, visit our aerospace market webpage.
Our experts are ready to help you find the right solution for your specific application.