Blog

Bearing Retainers: Trust Alpine to Select the Right Cage for Performance and Reliability

Bearing retainers, also known as bearing cages, play a critical role in overall bearing performance, longevity, and reliability. Selecting the proper bearing retainer material and design requires careful consideration of several factors, including cost, maximum operating speed (RPM), operating temperature, and specific application conditions such as load, lubrication, and environment. Each of these variables directly…

Alpine Bearing Announces New Headquarters in Billerica, Massachusetts

Alpine Bearing Announces New Headquarters in Billerica, Massachusetts

Alpine Bearing is pleased to announce the relocation of its headquarters to 16 Esquire Road, Suite 500, Billerica, MA 01862. This move represents a significant milestone in the company’s continued growth and commitment to supporting customers with greater speed, flexibility, and capability. The new headquarters provides 24,000 square feet of facility space, allowing Alpine Bearing…

How Alpine Bearing Supports the Rapid Growth of Robotics and Automation

How Alpine Bearing Supports the Rapid Growth of Robotics and Automation Humanoid robots are quickly shifting from futuristic prototypes to practical solutions in manufacturing and warehouse automation. From lifting and sorting to precise assembly tasks, these advanced robots are designed to move like humans, requiring unmatched accuracy and reliability in every joint and motion. At…

Why Buy U.S. Made Bearings? Benefits of Domestically Manufactured Bearing Solutions.

Why Buy U.S. Made Bearings? Benefits of Domestically Manufactured Bearing Solutions. At Alpine Bearing we know that sourcing precision components is never just a purchasing decision, it’s a commitment to performance, compliance, and long term value. Bearings are no exception. For industries ranging from aerospace and defense to medical and industrial systems, partnering with a…

Hiking with the Skip MO/GO device

Alpine Bearing customer story: Skip’s wearable tech helps people walk with less effort and more comfort

MO/GO™ movewear fights gravity to give users’ knees a boost We all wish we could transcend our limitations sometimes, whether that means climbing a bigger mountain or wishing an old knee injury could handle taking the stairs. Alpine Bearing customer Skip has developed a new type of technology called movewear to make this wish come…

A clean room for ball bearing re-lubrication and re-packaging

Cleaner than ever: our clean room is now ISO 14644-1 Class 6

Big news: Alpine Bearing is now able to meet even more exacting bearing re-lubrication and re-packaging needs in our clean room! Filter Sales and Service is delivering Alpine’s updated certification – an ISO 14644-1 Class 6 classification for our clean room in Boston. The recertification from Class 7 to Class 6 speaks to Alpine’s cleanliness,…

Alpine Bearing’s website refresh: new bearing database, services information, and more!

Alpine Bearing’s website refresh: new bearing database, services information, and more!

If you’re reading this, you may already have noticed something different about the Alpine Bearing website. We have a fresh look, but that’s not all. We’ve added functionality to make life easier for engineers, shop managers, and everyone looking for the right bearing. The Alpine website now offers an expanded bearing database with new filtering…

The picture shows Brett Deccy, the enterprise program manager.

Brett Deccy Joins Alpine as Enterprise Program Manager

There’s a new face at Alpine Bearing’s Boston office. Brett Deccy (pronounced, DC) started in April of 2024 as the new enterprise program manager. He dove in immediately, excited by the opportunity to join a growing company. One of his first assignments is to look for a new space for Alpine. Brett says, “We want…

Aeronautics bearings are an essential component of these jet planes.

Aeronautics: Flight Depends on Precision, Skill, and the Right Bearings

Aeronautics, the science of flight and the operation of aircraft, involves many moving parts. Where those parts move, there’s probably a bearing. From the navigation systems to the accelerometers to the landing gear, airframe control and miniature bearings play integral parts in the operation of every type of aircraft. Flight control systems Rudders, ailerons, gimbals,…

A ruby-tipped probe from a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) inside the SRF Test Lab at Jefferson Lab in Newport News, Va., on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (Photo by Aileen Devlin | Jefferson Lab)

Bearing FAQs – ABEC, bearing lubricants, flanges, and more

We know when you’re ordering bearings, you need as much information as possible. That’s why we’ve collected the answers to our most frequently asked bearing questions in one convenient place. If you have a different question about our business, bearings, or our clean room services like repackaging and relubrication, use our contact form to reach…

The picture shows a view of the night sky through a telescope to represent the fact that HQW bearings are in a big telescope.

HQW Bearings Are an Extremely Large Deal

Are you looking for precision bearings for an aerospace, medical, or robotic application? How about an Extremely Large Telescope? Look no further. Alpine Bearing is now an authorized HQW distributor. The German bearing manufacturer has what you need. HQW started out as a bearing customizer. They used their Veitshöchheim, Germany plant to recondition and relubricate…

A worker with finger cots picking up a ball bearing for re-lubrication

Facility Feature: our clean room for ball bearing re-lubrication and repackaging

Whether you’re at a food processor, medical device manufacturer, or aircraft repair facility, three things are true. One: you have specific needs that a standard bearing straight out of the box can’t necessarily meet. Two: you don’t have an infinite budget. Three: you don’t have time to wait around for weeks to replace a bearing. …

The picture shows a large novelty bearing full of ping-pong balls to represent unusual bearings.

The 11 Most Interesting and Unusual Facts About Bearings

Some people think bearings are boring. Those people are wrong. Sure, you might not live, breathe, and eat them like we do at Alpine Bearing, but we hope everyone can still share our love for these components. Bearings are precise, reliable, and beautifully engineered. Yet they can also be fun, weird, and even magical. Read…

The picture shows docking bays at a warehouse which relates to our authorized distributor status.

Authorized Bearing Distributor: What it Means, Why it Matters

An authorized distributor contracts to sell products from an Original Component Manufacturer (OCM) or Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

A photo of Chris Kane, Alpine Bearing's new West Coast director of sales.

Employee Spotlight: Chris Kane

Chris Kane officially joined the Alpine team as Director of Sales, West Coast, on July 5th after visiting the Alpine headquarters in Boston. Chris’ professional background Chris brings over a decade of experience in bearing sales and a deep understanding of the market to his new position. Excited to join the Alpine team, Chris looks…

What causes bearing failures? CNC machining of a metal shaft.

Bearing maintenance and repair – what causes bearing failures?

When a machine stops, everything grinds to a halt. Preventing premature failure is important to maintaining your machines and reducing downtime, so you can be as productive as possible. Knowing what causes bearing failures will help to prevent premature failures and improve your shop’s efficiency. Causes of bearing failure According to research in Bearing News,…

Machining a part on a CNC which uses HCM machine tool bearings.

Why FAG’s HCM machine tool bearings?

In the specialized world of machine tool spindle repair, downtime disrupts productivity and profit for machine shops. Optimizing precision and efficiency in your shop translates to improved machine running outcomes and more money. If time is money, then using the right bearings is golden. Schaeffler FAG HCM-series bearings are a great choice to help you…

Rolls of high-nitrogen steel

Extended service life: benefits of high-nitrogen alloy steel

Demanding applications and conditions require high-precision bearings made with top-quality materials. Do you stop your equipment frequently? Do your machines work at very high speeds? Do your machines run at high temperatures? Do you have a corrosive environment? If you answer yes to any of these, standard bearings will not suffice. You need the next generation…

This picture shows an electron microscope, one of the applications for turbomolecular pump bearings.

Turbomolecular Pump Bearings: Extreme Bearings for Extreme Machines

Turbomolecular pumps, or turbo pumps, are serious business. Their rotors spin at incredible speeds, sucking powerfully enough to create a high vacuum. Whether your turbomolecular pump generates vacuums to run an electron microscope or enable thin film deposition for computer chips or solar panels, you’ll need specialized, super-high-quality bearings to run it safely and consistently….

Molten metal pouring into a huge crucible at a steelworks

What are ANSI, ISO, and ASTM standards for bearings?

If you’ve searched for bearings online, you’ve likely come across product descriptions boasting about meeting ANSI, ISO, or ASTM standards. You know the standards are a sign of quality – but who came up with them, and what do they mean? Technical standards help both manufacturers and buyers. Manufacturers use them to make and test…

Two men in safety gear squatting behind a giant pile of counterfeit ball bearings, preparing to destroy them.

Avoiding Friction From Counterfeit Bearings

If you unwittingly buy a fake Rolex, you’ll be disappointed, but you’ll probably be okay. But if your new bearings are counterfeit, your equipment and the people who operate it are at risk. Why should you care about counterfeit bearings? There’s a reason you choose a reputable brand when you buy bearings: you want to…

An airplane flying overhead, full of aircraft needle and roller bearings.

Airframe Needle and Roller Bearings: Toughness at 33,000 Feet

As part of our Bearings 101 series of informational articles, we’re highlighting types of bearings or bearing components. Next on the agenda are airframe control needle and roller bearings. Regardless of the application, you always want a bearing to be sturdy and reliable. But when it comes to components for aircraft, the margin for error…

A hard disc drive, which uses an instrument bearing.

Miniature and Instrument Bearings: High-Speed, Low-Torque

As part of our Bearings 101 series of informational articles, we’re highlighting types of bearings or bearing components. The latest subject of our attention is miniature and instrument bearings. What’s teeny tiny and goes really fast? It’s not the wasp dive-bombing your soda on a hot day…it’s miniature and instrument bearings! Miniature bearings are any…

A cluttered kitchen with a large microwave on the counter.

These 10 Things in Your Home Have Bearings in Them

We deal with bearings all day long here at Alpine Bearing. You might not be as obsessed with bearings as we are, but we bet you interact with bearings in your home every day. Did you know these 10 things in your home have bearings in them? Microwave. Bearings are perfect for reducing friction on…

A woman working on multiple monitors in her office. Photo by thisisengineering on Unsplash.

10 Things in Your Office You Didn’t Realize Had Ball Bearings in Them

At Alpine Bearing, our world revolves around bearings. What you might not know is that your world does too. Whether you work in a skyscraping office building or the corner of your bedroom, you use bearings every day. Here are 10 places bearings might be hiding in your office: Desk chair. That swiveling action lets…

A radio telescope at dusk. Thin section bearings show up in observational equipment like this. Photo by Donald Giannatti.

Thin Section Bearings: Slim Yet Strong

As part of our Bearings 101 series of informational articles, we’re highlighting types of bearings or bearing components. Today’s article is all about thin section bearings. The elegant thin section bearing might look dainty, but don’t let its slender proportions fool you. The thin section bearing punches above its weight while fitting into tight spaces. …

A wind turbine, one of the machines where roller bearings can be found. Photo by Sebastien van de Walle.

Roller Bearings: Load-Bearing Champions

As part of our Bearings 101 series of informational articles, we’re highlighting types of bearings or bearing components. For this edition, we’re looking at roller bearings. Let the good times roll! Despite the name, you won’t find roller bearings in roller skates. Instead, roller bearings show up in places like wind turbines, conveyor systems, and…

The picture shows a CNC milling machine. These machines often use Schaeffler bearings.

A Talk with Jay Smith from Schaeffler

The team at Alpine is always looking to share our unique experiences and relationships with the people and companies that supply us with high quality bearings. Not only are we proud of the working relationships we have built with industry experts, but of the friendships that have formed along the way. company History We reached…

The picture is of cockpit controls of an airplane. NHBB makes bearings used in aircraft.

A Talk with Ted Gentile From New Hampshire Ball Bearings, a Minebea Mitsumi Company

At Alpine, we are always looking for ways to brag about the incredible people and companies that supply us with high quality bearings. We are proud to be able to build strong relationships with our counterparts and share a similar passion for creating and providing value to our customers. We reached out to Ted Gentile,…

The picture is of JC Calvagna.

JC Calvagna: Unexpected Career Is a Perfect Fit

James Calvagna, JC to just about everyone, started at Alpine in 1999. His first bearing-related position was in the shipping department of a competitor. He took the job in 1996 after returning from what started as a trip to Europe. It became more than a trip when JC decided to stay and work in Belgium…

This is a picture of a cockpit where you might find Thinex and Torque Tube bearings.

Thinex And Torque Tube Bearings

As part of our Bearings 101 series of informational articles, we’re highlighting types of bearings or bearing components. In this article, we present Thinex and torque tube bearings. No, Thinex and Torque is not the name of The Three Stooges’ law firm. That was Dewey Cheatem & Howe. If deep groove bearings are the workhorses of the…

The picture shows an ornate bird carving atop a temple in Taipei City, where TPI Bearings is located.

A Talk with Kevin Fang from TPI Bearings

An ornate carving atop a temple in Taipei City, Taiwan At Alpine, we’re always happy to talk about, or with, the people who supply us with high quality bearings. We understand. They’re as proud of their brand as we are of all the brands we stock. We reached out to Kevin Fang, sales manager at…

The picture shows a robotic arm full of machine tool spindle bearings.

Machine Tool Spindle Bearings: A Blast to the Future

We’ve put together a series of informational articles to highlight bearing types, terminology, and components. In this segment of Bearings 101, we focus on machine tool spindle bearings. In this complex universe, there are profound questions with answers that elude us. Why do we exist? Are there other worlds beyond ours? What are machine tool…

The picture shows a CNC milling machine like those described in this SLF article.

Alpine Now Stocks SLF Machine Tool Spindle Bearings

The sales engineers at Alpine Bearing are always on the lookout for new bearings to stock and distribute and new companies to work with. Recently, Alpine began carrying machine tool spindle bearings from SLF. Spindel- und Lagerungstechnik Fraureuth GmbH (Spindle and Bearing Technology, Fraureuth, Germany, LLC) has been making spindles and spindle bearings since 1993. True to their German heritage, they take great pride in…

This sheep and its fleece contributed to the invention of CNC machining.

What Does CNC Machining Owe Sheep?

A sheep You may look at a sheep and wonder what is has to do with CNC (computer numerical control) machining. The truth is, we might not have seen the creation and expansion of manufacturing and computing as it is now if not for fleece and a few creative thinkers in the 18th century. The…

This is a picture of a record, representing deep groove.

Deep Groove Bearings: Tough and Easy to Maintain

Another kind of groove. As part of our Bearings 101 series of informational articles, we’ve decided to highlight types of bearings or bearing components. This time, we turn the spotlight on deep groove bearings. Contrary to popular belief, Deep Groove Bearings did not back up Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock. Deep groove bearings are the workhorses…

This is a picture of the Mona Lisa painting in the Louvre Museum.

Bearings at the Louvre?

The “Mona Lisa” Do you know what connects the Pyramids, the “Mona Lisa”, and a healthy smile? Pssst, it’s bearings. Leonardo da Vinci, the artist, cartographer, astronomer, and painter of “The Last Supper” and the “Mona Lisa”, was also an engineer. His research and discoveries predated the invention of helicopters, tanks, submarines, watch works, and…

The picture shows William Pool at his desk at Alpine Bearing in Anaheim, California.

Employee Spotlight: William Pool

William Pool in his Anaheim office William Pool, a thirteen-year veteran of Alpine Bearing, works in the Anaheim office as Quality Manager and Sales Engineer. You may have thought we had just the Boston location, but we also have a West Coast office. Originally hired as a sales engineer, William stepped up to learn about…

The picture shows an automated tray assembly with roller bearings because this is a glossary of bearing terms.

The Bearing Glossary to End All Bearing Glossaries

We’ve started a feature on the Alpine Bearing site. We call it Bearings 101 and in it, we’ll post technical articles about, you guessed it, bearings. Some will be basic, others, more complex. We hope you learn something you didn’t know or can use this column as a resource. Think of us when describing a…

The picture shows Lenny Brookes, sales engineer, in the Alpine Bearing warehouse.

Sales Engineer, Lenny Brookes: Creative Problem-Solver

In 2004, Lenny Brookes saw a note on the Boston University job board for part-time work in a bearing warehouse. At the time, he figured it was a short-term situation, something to help him pay his way through school. Now, sixteen years later, Lenny is one of the most knowledgeable sales engineers at Alpine Bearing….

The picture shows an NTN angular contact bearing.

Alpine Bearing Partners with NTN Bearing Corp

Partnership Gives Alpine Priority Access to NTN OEM Bearings, Providing Customers With Immediate Access to Highly Specialized Ball and Roller Bearings BOSTON- October 21, 2020- BOSTON Alpine Bearing, New England’s largest ball bearing distributor, has entered an agreement as a U.S.-based channel partner for NTN Bearing Corporation for High Precision Bearings used in the…

The picture shows some bearings. Bearings and bushings differ, but how?

Bearings and Bushings: The Inside Story

From time to time, we’ll be posting educational articles on bearings, bearing attributes, and their applications. It’s called, Bearings 101. Some will touch on basic facts; others will dive more deeply. Most people know what a bearing is, but fewer recognize a bushing. In this piece, we’ll compare bearings and bushings and point out the…

Alpine Bearing ISO 9001 Certificate

Alpine Bearing’s Boston Facility Earns ISO 9001: 2015 Certification

Boston Bearing Distributor Earns ISO 9001 Alpine Bearing, the distributor with the largest inventory of bearings in the U.S., has earned its ISO 9001: 2015 certification. Recently, the NSF, the international accreditation body, audited Alpine Bearing to gauge the efficiency of its systems and processes, continuous improvement practices, and customer satisfaction efforts and found the…

gabrielle pritchett

Employee Spotlight: Gabrielle Pritchett Is Keeping It in the Family

When Gabrielle graduated from Elizabethtown College with a degree in business, she never thought she’d launch a career in the ball bearing industry. Now, more than twenty years later, Gabrielle thinks she might just stick around. Alpine’s newest sales engineer won’t be commuting in to Alpine’s Boston office though. She’ll be working from her Mechanicsburg,…

Derek Anderson employee highlight

Derek Anderson: 20 Years with Alpine Bearing and Still Going Strong

This employee spotlight deals, not with a new Alpine Bearing team member, but one of the oldest. October of 2018 will mark Derek Anderson’s 20th anniversary at Alpine Bearing. Twenty years ago, Derek answered an ad in the Boston Globe and interviewed with Alpine’s founder, Robert Levin. His son and Alpine’s president, Jim Levin, hired…

new bearings

Alpine Bearing and its Massive Inventory Make the World Spin

Photo courtesy Alpine Bearing We’ve discussed preventive maintenance and how taking the right steps ahead of time can save you time and money. While that’s true, sometimes, even in companies with the best maintenance programs, a piece of equipment breaks. When that happens, and your line stops, you need a new part ASAP. For some…

lubricant and oil cans

Importance of Bearing Maintenance: Lubrication

Photo courtesy Pixabay Anyone who uses equipment with moving parts or cooks a meal understands the value of lubrication. You change the oil on your car every three to five thousand miles. You wax your skis to make them glide better on the slopes. You even grease the frying pan before adding the food so…

eastec information kiosk

EASTEC 2017

On three days in May, Alpine Bearing and hundreds of manufacturing, distribution, and technology firms descended on the Big E (Eastern States Exposition) in West Springfield, Massachusetts for EASTEC, the premier manufacturing event in New England. Hosted by the SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers) and the AMT (Association for Manufacturing Technology), EASTEC hosted over twelve…

Things My Dad Taught Me

By Jim Levin, President, Alpine Bearing My dad, Robert, had some definite ideas about how to run a business. The customer is always right may sound like a cliché, but that’s how he operated. It was important to him for his customers to get a quality product for a good price. He said, “I’d rather…

SKF destroys counterfeit bearings

The Problem with Counterfeit Bearings

Does Quality Matter in Bearings? We hear about quality every day, but what does it mean? What’s the point in having the newest and shiniest products available aside from the fact that they’re the newest and shiniest? The best coffee maker might brew the smoothest Colombian Supremo, but will it change our lives? Probably not….

Visit Alpine Bearing at EASTEC 2017, Booth #5669

Once again the team at Alpine Bearing will be attending and participating in EASTEC! Stop by our booth, #5669, to chat with Jim, Lenny, JC, or the rest of the team to learn the latest in bearings, new product lines we’re carrying, what’s going on in our clean room and more! The show, New England’s…

Alpine Bearing at MIN#97

Alpine Bearing Showcases Bearings for Robotics at Mass Innovation Nights

We had a great time the other night displaying and discussing various bearings for robotics at the monthly Mass Innovation Nights “product launch party” and innovation showcase. MIN#97, which took place at the Innovation and Design Building in Boston’s Seaport District, was sponsored by MassTLC, MassRobotics, and Amazon Robotics. The theme, as you may have guessed,…

Colin Griffin, sales engineer, Alpine Bearing. www.alpinebearing.com

Colin Griffin, the Newest Sales Engineer at Alpine Bearing

Colin Griffin, the newest sales engineer at Boston’s Alpine Bearing, is a long way from his first home in California, but he’s happy to be here. A tall, friendly guy, Colin has a genial smile and talks easily. It’s not hard to see that he’d fit in wonderfully in this close-knit company. Colin lives in…

Dave Coffer, sales, Alpine Bearing, www.alpinebearing.com

Dave Coffer, Alpine Bearing’s Man on the (West) Coast

Dave Coffer lives over three-thousand miles from Alpine Bearing‘s headquarters in Boston. He has either the world’s worst commute or the best. Dave maintains it’s the best. After 23 years in the bearing business, he’s in an ideal situation. He works as a sales engineer for Alpine Bearing, from his home in Covington, Washington. We…

Jim Levin of Alpine Bearing, photo courtesy of the Boston Globe

The Boston Globe: Alpine Keeps its (ball) Bearings

Boston Globe Correspondent Cindy Atoji Keene recently sat down with Jim Levin of Alpine Bearing, for a chat about the business of distributing ball bearings. Read the full story here.