Develops and manufactures maintenance-free plain bearings, self-lubricating bushings and polymer coatings for demanding industrial applications.
GGB Heilbronn GmbH
Heilbronn · Suzhou · France · Slovakia · Brazil · USANew on Amplifa
About GGB
GGB (GGB Bearing Technology) develops and manufactures plain bearings, self-lubricating bushings and polymer coatings for critical industrial applications. The product portfolio comprises metal-polymer plain bearings (DU®, DX®, HI-EX®, DP4®), fiber-reinforced composite plain bearings (HPMB®, GAR-MAX®, GAR-FIL), injection-molded engineering plastic plain bearings (EP®, EP®12, EP®30), metal and bimetal plain bearings (AuGlide®, GGB-DB®, GGB-BP25) as well as polymer coatings (TriboShield®, TriboMate®) and bearing assemblies with housings (Exalign®, MINI, UNI). The materials are based on steel and bronze backings with PTFE or thermoplastic running layers as well as fiber-reinforced composites. GGB works with customers from the early design phase on tribological solutions tailored to the application. The company operates seven manufacturing plants in the USA, Brazil, China, Germany, France and Slovakia, as well as a network of 300 distributors in 40 countries. The German entity is GGB Heilbronn GmbH, based in Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg.
- Site
- Heilbronn
- Processes
- Manufacture of plain bearings, Metal-polymer plain bearings (DP4®, DX®, HI-EX®, DU®), Fiber-composite plain bearings (HPMB®, GAR-MAX®, GAR-FIL), Engineering plastic plain bearings, injection molded (EP®, EP®12, EP®30), Metal and bimetal plain bearings (AuGlide®, GGB-DB®, GGB-BP25), TriboShield® polymer coatings / TriboMate® matched coating solutions, Plain bearing assemblies & housings, self-aligning (Exalign®, MINI, UNI), In-house development of tribological materials
- Materials
- Steel-bronze-PTFE (DU® metal-polymer material), Bronze (DU-B backing material), Lead-free metal-polymer material (DP4), Thermoplastic (EP® series, injection molded), Steel (steel backing for metal-polymer plain bearings), Metal-polymer material with steel backing, bronze and PTFE running layer, Metal-polymer material with bronze backing, Metal-polymer material (marginally lubricated)
- Certificates
- ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, IATF 16949:2016, EN 9100:2018 / AS9100D, ISO 50001:2018, EN 9100 / AS9100D
- Founded
- 1887
- Industries
- Aerospace, Agricultural Machinery, Automotive, Construction, E-Mobility, Energy
- 01
In-house development of tribological materials
- 02
Plain bearing manufacturing (metal-polymer, composite, plastic, metal/bimetal)
- 03
Polymer coating (TriboShield®, TriboMate®)
- 04
Manufacturing of assemblies and housings
- 05
Application-specific solutions from the design phase
Materials and Processes
Metal-polymer material with steel backing, bronze and PTFE running layer
The world's first metal-polymer plain bearing material (1956) with low friction and high wear resistance.
Metal-polymer material with bronze backing
Variant of the DU® bushing with bronze backing for improved corrosion resistance.
Metal-polymer material (marginally lubricated)
For grease- or oil-lubricated applications (from 1965).
Metal-polymer material for high-temperature applications
Marginally lubricated bearing material for high-temperature use (from 1986).
Lead-free metal-polymer material with steel backing
On the market since 1995, among other things for automotive shock absorbers and hydraulic applications; DP4-B variant with bronze backing.
Fiber-reinforced composite materials (filament wound)
Carry high static and dynamic loads; winding technology introduced in the USA in 1978.
Thermoplastic materials (injection molded)
Solid polymer plain bearings from injection molding, introduced in 1996 (EP®, EP®12, EP®30).
Metal and bimetal materials
Metallic and bimetallic plain bearings for conventional applications.
Polymer coatings
Coating systems including matched coating solutions for surface applications.
Locations
Heilbronn
DEManufacturing and administration (GGB Heilbronn GmbH)
Suzhou
CNManufacturing (GGB Bearing Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd)
GGB France EURL
FRManufacturing
GGB Slovakia s.r.o.
SKManufacturing
GGB Brasil
BRManufacturing
GGB North America I
USManufacturing
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacture of plain bearingsAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Metal-polymer plain bearings (DP4®, DX®, HI-EX®, DU®)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Steel, Bronze, PTFE, Thermoplastic |
| Fiber-composite plain bearings (HPMB®, GAR-MAX®, GAR-FIL)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Fiber-reinforced composite |
| Engineering plastic plain bearings, injection molded (EP®, EP®12, EP®30)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Thermoplastic |
| Metal and bimetal plain bearings (AuGlide®, GGB-DB®, GGB-BP25)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Metal, Bimetal |
| TriboShield® polymer coatings / TriboMate® matched coating solutionsSurface | – | – | – | – | Polymer |
| Plain bearing assemblies & housings, self-aligning (Exalign®, MINI, UNI)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Quality
The manufacturing plants are certified to ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 50001:2018, ISO 45001:2018 and AS9100D/EN 9100:2018. GGB Heilbronn GmbH has been awarded the EcoVadis Silver Medal for sustainability.
| Evidence | Heilbronn | Suzhou | GGB France EURL | GGB Slovakia s.r.o. | GGB Brasil | GGB North America I |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 | ||||||
| ISO 14001:2015 | ||||||
| ISO 45001:2018 | ||||||
| IATF 16949:2016 | ||||||
| EN 9100 / AS9100D | ||||||
| ISO 50001:2018 |
History
- 1887
Olin J. Garlock patents his first industrial sealing system for steam engine piston rods.
- 1899
Cuyler W. Findlay and A. J. Battle found Findlay Motor Metals, renamed Glacier Antifriction Metal Company two years later.
- 1910
Start of plain bearing bushing production as a result of the growing demand for internal combustion engines.
- 1956
Introduction of the DU® bushing, the world's first metal-polymer plain bearing material with steel backing, bronze and PTFE running layer.
- 1958
Garlock Inc. is established as US distributor for Glacier.
- 1965
Introduction of the marginally lubricated DX® metal-polymer material.
- 1970
Licensing of the technology to foreign plain bearing manufacturers, including SIC (France) and Garlock Inc. (USA).
- 1976
Foundation of the joint venture Garlock Bearings Inc. by Glacier and Garlock Inc.
- 1978
Introduction of the filament-wound product line in the USA, including GAR-MAX®.
- 1986
Introduction of the HI-EX® metal-polymer material for high-temperature applications.
- 1995
Introduction of the lead-free, steel-backed DP4® metal-polymer material.
- 1996
Introduction of the injection-molded thermoplastic EP® plain bearing series.
- 2002
B.F. Goodrich (information incomplete in the source).