What are DU® Bearings?

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We revolutionized the bearing industry 60 years ago with the introduction of DU®, the world’s first self-lubricating, metal-polymer plain bearings. Bearings made of this material combined the high load capacity and dimensional rigidity of lubricated metallic bearings with the performance and economic benefits of self-lubrication.

GGB DU® BEARING design & benefits

The structure of the bearings consists of a rigid steel or corrosion-resistant bronze backing (DU®-B), which provides mechanical strength, while a porous sintered bronze interlayer impregnated with a homogeneous mixture of PTFE and lead provides low friction and high wear resistance.

The low friction of the DU® bearings reduces power losses for improved energy efficiency, while the wear-resistant bronze layer provides extended service life. Being self-lubricating, the bearings require little to no maintenance. However they can also be used with lubricant to prevent potential shaft/bearing seizure under boundary conditions.

The compact, lightweight design and thin-wall construction of the DU® bearings provide space and weight savings, and because there are no moving parts or metal-to-metal contact the bearings are quieter. In addition, assembly can be done quickly and easily without costly mounting tools.

a variety of bearing applications

Today we produce millions of DU® bearings for use in numerous applications in a wide range of industries. These include:

• agricultural
• ​off-highway equipment
• automotive including trucks
• aviation
• garden, lawn and outdoor equipment
• hydraulics and valves
• homes appliances and consumer goods
• material handling
• medical and dental
• packaging
• marine
• recreational vehicles
• railway equipment
• textile equipment and tools, etc.

DU® bearings are available in standard dimensions as cylindrical and flanged bearings, thrust washers, flanged washers and sliding plates. Visit our DU® bearing product webpage to get more information.