Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about whitemetal bearings and our services.
A whitemetal bearing (also known as a babbitt bearing) is a type of plain bearing that uses a soft, white-coloured alloy as the bearing surface. The whitemetal alloy, typically tin-based or lead-based, is bonded to a steel or bronze backing shell. These bearings are widely used in turbines, compressors, pumps, and gearboxes due to their excellent conformability, embeddability, and ability to operate with oil film lubrication.
Standard bearing repairs typically take 5-10 working days depending on the size and complexity of the bearing. For emergency breakdowns, we offer expedited services and can often complete repairs within 24-72 hours. Contact us to discuss your specific timeline requirements.
Common causes of whitemetal bearing failure include:
- Fatigue - from cyclic loading causing cracks in the whitemetal
- Oil starvation - causing metal-to-metal contact and wiping
- Contamination - particles in the oil scoring the bearing surface
- Misalignment - between the bearing and shaft causing uneven loading
- Electrical discharge - sparking through the bearing causing pitting
- Overloading - exceeding design load limits
Yes, we manufacture bearings to OEM specifications and can also reverse-engineer bearings when original drawings are not available. We work with all major turbine, compressor, and pump manufacturers' designs and can provide direct replacements for obsolete or difficult-to-source bearings.
We serve a wide range of industries including:
- Power generation (fossil, nuclear, and renewable)
- Oil and gas (upstream, midstream, and downstream)
- Marine and shipbuilding
- Pumps and compressors
- Steel and metals processing
- Mining and cement
- Paper and pulp manufacturing
Yes, we provide rapid response emergency services for unplanned outages. Our team can mobilise quickly to assess damage, provide repair recommendations, and expedite bearing repairs or new manufacturing to minimise your downtime. Contact us immediately when a breakdown occurs.
Yes, our re-engineering services can improve bearing performance, increase load capacity, reduce operating temperatures, and extend service life. We use FEA analysis to optimise bearing geometry, oil flow, and pad configurations for your specific application requirements.