Bearings are used in a wide variety of applications. From the prevalence of ball bearings in automobiles and heavy machinery, to roller bearings in conveyor belts and lathes, you need to be able to rely on these small but mighty components. For this reason, knowing how to choose the right industrial bearing supplier is of the utmost importance - in this guide, we’re going to explore what you should look for in an industrial bearing supplier to help you choose the right supplier for your needs.
When you’re ready to learn more, read on and let’s get started!
The Key Steps That You Should Take When Choosing an Industrial Bearings Supplier
There are a number of steps that you should take when you need to choose an industrial bearing supplier. In this section, we’ll explore the important steps that you should take.
Product Variety and Delivery Timescales
If a bearing fails, an entire production line can grind to a halt. This is a huge problem for any business, and one that you should seek to avoid at all costs. For this reason, when you’re considering an industrial bearing supplier, making sure that the company has a strong variety of products readily available from stock is a must. You don’t want to have to shop around for multiple different suppliers, just because your main supplier doesn’t offer a particular kind of bearing.
As bearing delivery may become a matter of urgency, you should assess their delivery information to make sure that they can deliver at short notice. Look for delivery within 1-3 working days, as this is a sign that you will be able to get your bearings replaced fast to ensure minimal downtime. At Quality Bearings Online, we supply products all around the world in as little as 1-3 days, ensuring our customers receive their products exactly when they need them.
Quality and Reliability
When choosing an industrial bearing supplier, one of the key things you need to assess is the quality of their products. Do they distribute well known bearing brands that are high-quality and will reliably do their job over a long period of time? This can be tough to assess without having tried their products yourself, but there are some ways to get a good idea of their products’ quality.
Firstly, if the site lists customer reviews on product pages, you can use these to see what people who have bought the products have to say. Are they positive? You can also use other online review sites like Reviews.io or Feefo to see what customers have to say.
However, you shouldn’t stop there. It’s also important to consider what certifications the distributor has, and if they have won any awards. For example, Quality Bearings Online won a Queen’s Award for outstanding achievements and success. If you see awards and certifications, you know that they’re a brand you can trust.
Are they a member of any communities in your industry? For example, Quality Bearings Online has created business relationships through North West Aerospace Alliance and Make UK Defence, making them a reliable choice for those businesses operating in these industries.
Look for Technical Expertise
You need to know that you can rely on your industrial bearing supplier. They should demonstrate their expertise through expert blogs, as well as a strong selection of qualifications and awards. These are great indicators that your supplier will be able to offer you support should you find yourself in a difficult situation and in need of advice.
This flows neatly into our next point; customer service and support should be available when you need it. Strong customer service means that you will be able to solve any problems you may encounter, such as issues with the bearings, incorrect deliveries, or anything else. These things are unlikely to happen, but if they do, you need to ensure that you can easily contact your suppliers to resolve them.
Are Their Bearings Well-Priced?
You may be able to find a business that offers you bearings that are superb quality but are outside your budget - that won’t help you. When you are searching for an industrial bearing supplier, making sure that their products are well-priced is very important.
Bearings form a part of your operating budget and it’s important that you look for bearings that strike the balance between value and quality. Don’t assume that just because the prices are low that they’re the ideal supplier for your business. You should consider the total cost of ownership, or TCO. This refers to the operating costs that are associated with the bearings. For example, if you find cost-effective bearings that need to be replaced more regularly, you will need to buy new bearings sooner, pushing the price up compared to better quality bearings that will last longer. Other considerations include the impact on operating costs that will be generated by having to stop production if bearings fail.
You should also look for value-added services that bearing suppliers may offer, such as bulk pricing that can reduce the price of bearings further.
Keep in mind that if a deal looks too good to be true, it likely is. Counterfeit and fraudulent products are a huge problem in the bearing industry, one that all major bearing manufacturers are working to protect their customers and brand reputations from. If you see a price that doesn’t seem right, don’t take it at face value. Do your research, look into the distributor, and protect yourself from inadvertently purchasing fake bearings. You can read our blog on how to spot counterfeit bearings here.
Now You Know How to Choose a Supplier
We hope that this guide on how to choose an industrial bearings supplier has been helpful. As an established bearings supplier, we know what it takes to supply customers with the bearings they need, promptly and effectively. If you have any questions for us about our products or want to find out more about Quality Bearings Online, please do not hesitate to contact us, and one of our expert team will be happy to assist you.