2020 is BNL’s 50th anniversary! Over the past half century, our products have evolved from simple radial bearings and conveyor parts, into complex, integrated components, found in market leading products from automotive controls to domestic appliances.

In 1970 we introduced the BNL moulded plastic bearing to the market. Over five decades, our products have developed from simple bearings, into innovative, integrated bearing solutions that offer so much more than just smooth rotation and excellent wear rates.

Back in the 70’s, BNL plastic bearings were the alternative to machined plastic or steel bearings; offering advantages over machined plastic bearings by wearing less in operation and over steel bearings by offering, non-corrosive, lighter weight bearings that did not need lubrication. Recognisable as a rolling element bearing, they soon became the bearing of choice for many industries, including material handling, poultry processing, sliding wardrobe doors and shower cubicles.

BNL bearings are now designed and manufactured to the shape, space and operational specifications of our customers – often resulting in products that many engineers would have struggled to recognise as a bearing back in 1970. Having evolved from simple radial bearings and conveyor parts into complex, integrated components, BNL custom plastic bearings can now be found in products from automotive controls to domestic appliances, and from satellite antennae to pool cleaners.

Our HQ and UK manufacturing continues to be based in picturesque North Yorkshire, but we are now a global company, with a multi-national client base. We have recently doubled our Thailand production capacity and have sites in Japan, China and the USA.

We are looking forward to an exciting future for BNL as we continue to innovate and expand on the technical specifications our products can achieve and work with our customers to find the right plastic bearing solution for their products. We will be sharing some stories from our last five decades throughout our celebrations in 2020.