Development and production of ceramic rolling elements and components made of mixed ceramics
MLC Metal Like Ceramics GmbH
Hofheim i. UFNew on Amplifa
About us
MLC Metal Like Ceramics GmbH is a German high-tech company based in Hofheim in Lower Franconia (Bavaria), specializing in the development and production of ceramic components. The focus is on ceramic rolling elements such as balls, cylindrical rollers and needle rollers in the diameter range of 1.5 to 20 mm as well as ceramic parts made to drawing, such as drawing rings, drawing dies, plain bearing components, nozzles and valve discs. At the core of the offering is the mixed ceramic MLC (Metal Like Ceramics) brought to production readiness by the company itself, a polymer-filler-derived ceramic process based on licensed patents. The base materials are converted in-house into a plastic-like consistency, which enables precise, near-net-shape and cost-effective forming even in small series; after heat treatment with a volume shrinkage of 5–8 %, an optional hard machining step by grinding and honing follows. The material properties lie between rolling bearing steel and standard ceramics such as silicon nitride. Applications are found in hybrid rolling bearings, semiconductor manufacturing, in cleanroom and vacuum environments, in food and textile machinery, in electronics, metrology and testing technology, medical technology, as well as in extruders and injection molding machines.
- Site
- Hofheim
- Processes
- Manufacture of ceramic rolling elements (balls, cylindrical rollers, needle rollers), Ceramic rolling bearing balls in G5 quality, Ceramic cylindrical rollers and needle rollers in G1/G2 quality, Ceramic components made to drawing (near-net-shape forming), Hard machining of ceramics (grinding, honing, fine grinding with silicon carbide), Heat treatment (sintering) with volume shrinkage of 5–8 %, Ceramic drawing rings and drawing dies, Ceramic plain bearing components
- Materials
- MLC mixed ceramic (ceramic derived from polymer fillers), Silicon nitride, Rolling bearing steel, Silicon carbide (abrasive)
- Certificates
- G5 (balls), G1/G2 (cylindrical/needle rollers)
- Industries
- Rolling bearing industry (hybrid rolling bearings), Semiconductor manufacturing, Food machinery, Textile machinery, Electronics & mechatronics, Metrology & testing technology
- 01
Processing of base materials into a plastic-like intermediate stage
- 02
Near-net-shape forming
- 03
Heat treatment (sintering, volume shrinkage 5–8 %)
- 04
Hard machining (grinding, honing)
- 05
Inspection and delivery
Materials & Processes
MLC mixed ceramic (ceramic derived from polymer fillers)
Ceramic with properties between steel and standard ceramics, pore-free, temperature-resistant up to 800 °C and about 50 % lighter than steel.
Silicon nitride
Reference standard ceramic with high hardness and rolling strength, whose machining is considerably more complex than MLC.
Silicon carbide (abrasive)
Used for fine grinding of MLC functional surfaces and makes fine machining comparatively cost-effective.
Rolling bearing steel
As a reference material in property comparison; MLC replaces steel wherever corrosion and wear resistance are required.
Locations
Hofheim i. UF
DEHeadquarters with production and development
- Part weight / size
- Ø 1.5–20 mm (rolling elements)
- Lot size
- Small series
- Materials
- MLC mixed ceramic
Components
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacture of ceramic rolling elements (balls, cylindrical rollers, needle rollers)Plastics | – | Ø 20 mm | – | Small series | MLC mixed ceramic |
| Ceramic rolling bearing balls in G5 qualityPlastics | G5 | Ø 1.5 mm to 20 mm | – | – | MLC mixed ceramic |
| Ceramic cylindrical rollers and needle rollers in G1/G2 qualityPlastics | G1/G2 | Ø 1.5 mm to 20 mm | – | – | MLC mixed ceramic |
| Ceramic components made to drawing (near-net-shape forming)Plastics | – | – | – | Small series | MLC mixed ceramic |
| Hard machining of ceramics (grinding, honing, fine grinding with silicon carbide)Surface | – | – | – | – | MLC mixed ceramic |
| Heat treatment (sintering) with volume shrinkage of 5–8 %Heat treatment | – | – | – | – | MLC mixed ceramic |
| Ceramic drawing rings and drawing diesPlastics | – | – | – | – | MLC mixed ceramic |
| Ceramic plain bearing componentsPlastics | – | – | – | – | MLC mixed ceramic |
| Ceramic nozzlesPlastics | – | – | – | – | MLC mixed ceramic |
| Ceramic valve discsPlastics | – | – | – | – | MLC mixed ceramic |
Additional services
Quality
Production is carried out in defined tolerance grades: ceramic rolling bearing balls in G5, cylindrical and needle rollers in G1/G2.
| Evidence | Hofheim i. UF |
|---|---|
| G5 (balls) | |
| G1/G2 (cylindrical/needle rollers) |