Automotive

BNL bearing expertise is called for upon projects as diverse as steering columns, roof racks and rotating emergency vehicle warning lights. As well as being ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004 accredited, BNL has achieved the global automotive standard ISO/TS 16949/2002, making the company well placed to meet the stringent quality standards set for suppliers to the automotive industry.

Steering columns

BNL works alongside global, first tier automotive suppliers in the design and production of steering column components. The BNL approach has delivered cost reduction through the integration of previously discrete parts into a single moulded assembly; improved quality and repeatability through moulded bearing tracks and fully automated assembly; and snap fitting, enabling reduction in the assembly cost of mating parts.

Today over 5 million vehicles have been fitted with steering columns using BNL lower bearings, bearing/sensor housing assemblies and steering column height adjusting clamp components.

Automotive plastic bearings

Roof Racks and Luggage Systems

For one customer, metallic bearing solutions used in adjustable roof racks had resulted in jamming and skewing of the cross bars and damage to the coating on the product occurred.  BNL worked with this leading roof rack manufacturer to design and provide a solution - a miniature, plastic bearing, which gives the product a smoother movement and reduces wear.

Rotating Beacons

BNL plastic bearing technology can eliminate the requirement for numerous amounts of parts for beacons by integrating features such as mounting brackets and bulb holders, plus component design and material selection can be carefully managed to ensure functionality in specified environmental conditions. Please see the page on Rotating Beacons for more in depth information on this application.

Motor Sports

Moulded plastic bearing assemblies are replacing multi-component, metal alternatives in automotive designs for sports cars, where weight is a key issue in achieving top speeds and performance. BNL bearing assemblies can be designed and moulded to integrate the already lightweight plastic components into one assembly, reducing parts and further reducing weight. Our bearings are found in applications such as on-board camera systems where they effectively withstand the muddy, oily and wet environmental conditions in off-road and track racing.