The year was 1994, and CBR founder Charlie Rowlett was an employee at a Honda-Yamaha motorcycle shop. During his time employed at the motorcycle shop, he noticed that many of the expensive OEM replacement bearings they were selling to their customers were simply standard sized bearings and nothing particularly special. He was intrigued by this and spent a considerable amount of time researching the sizes and applications of these bearings and recording them in a detailed spreadsheet. After … [Read more...]
Major American Electric Motor Manufacturer Chooses CBR for Ceramic Hybrid Bearings
As a small specialty ceramic hybrid bearing manufacturer (small, at least in comparison to the industry giants), it can be difficult to grab the attention of some of the major electric motor manufacturers. The large bearing companies have marketing budgets and sales teams that dwarf our staff here at CBR. However, recently, CBR caught the attention of a major new client! We got a call from the largest, and one of the most respected manufacturers of electric motors in the country. This company … [Read more...]
Why Choose CBR Over More Well-Known Manufacturers of Ceramic Hybrid Bearings?
Bearing manufacturers are plentiful. There is even a healthy amount of competition in the ceramic hybrid bearing market. And through the internet, those in need of bearings can order them from companies all over the world. Some of the largest players in the ceramic hybrid bearing manufacturing industry include companies like Boca Bearings, NSK, and SKF. These companies have thousands of employees and some have revenues in the billions. So, why should you choose a boutique bearing manufacturer … [Read more...]
Don’t Buy Just Any Ceramic Hybrid Ball Bearings
We talk a lot about the advantages of ceramic hybrid ball bearings on our website and on this blog. Those benefits aren’t exaggerated. Ball bearings with ceramic balls really are a better choice than ball bearings with steel balls for so many reasons, especially in industrial electric motor applications. Just to name a few of their benefits: ceramic hybrid ball bearings eliminate the risk of electrical arcing, they last up to ten times longer, and they perform with less friction, which results i … [Read more...]
Educating the Industry on the Benefits of Ceramic Hybrid Bearings
Sometimes old habits die hard. Industrial electric motor mechanics who have used the same steel ball bearings for years are often reluctant to try ceramic hybrid ball bearings. Maybe they think the steel ball bearings they’ve always used are working just fine (the old “if it ain’t broke, why fix it?” mentality), or perhaps they think ceramic hybrid ball bearings are too expensive, or maybe they’ve just never looked into the benefits of ceramic hybrid ball bearings. Whatever the reason, we know th … [Read more...]
World Record Holder for Motorcycle Speed Uses Ceramic Hybrid Bearings from CBR
Back in August, a group of motorcycle racers headed to the Andes Mountains in Bolivia for the Top 1 Top of the World Speed trials, with the hopes of breaking the world record for the fastest partially-streamlined motorcycle. Despite the challenges of the thin air at 12,000 feet above sea level, the low temperatures, and limited daylight, racer Ralph Hudson and his turbocharged Suzuki motorcycle broke the record with an average speed of 284.361mph on the salt flats of Lake Uyani. The record was … [Read more...]
Why Industrial Electric Motor Service Providers Should Consider Ceramic Hybrid Bearings
In our many years in the bearing manufacturing industry, we’ve come to find that certain habits among motor repair technicians die hard. Many who have always used steel ball bearings to repair motors are reluctant to try something else, such as ceramic hybrid ball bearings. We understand that new products and technologies seem to come and go almost on a daily basis, so making the switch to something you aren’t as familiar with can feel risky, but ceramic hybrid ball bearings are a tried and true … [Read more...]
How to Prevent Electrical Arcing in Motors with a VFD
If you own, operate, or provide maintenance for equipment with motors using a variable frequency drive (VFD), you likely are aware of the problem of electrical arcing. It’s not a new or uncommon problem. Electrical arcing occurs when the voltage level gets too high and causes an ongoing electric discharge, which can damage your equipment and eventually cause it to fail. In the December 2017 edition of Currents, the monthly publication for members of the Electrical Apparatus Service A … [Read more...]
Ceramic Ball Bearings vs. Steel Balls Bearings: Is There Any Real Difference?
Steel ball bearings have been the standard bearings used in industrial electric motors for many years. When one particular product has been used for so long, we understand that it can be difficult for people to make the switch to something else, even if it may be a better product that offers superior performance. Steel bearings have served many people well for a lot of years, but if you find that you are replacing your steel ball bearings more frequently than you’d like, or if your bearings a … [Read more...]
