Self-Lubricating & Maintenance-Free Bearings

KOK manufactures self-lubricating and maintenance-free plain bearings for OEM and high-volume customers, produced according to customer drawings and specifications.

These bearings are supplied for applications where low friction, wear resistance, and reduced lubrication requirements are required over extended service life.

Component Definition

Self-lubricating and maintenance-free bearings are plain (sliding) bearings designed to operate without regular external relubrication.

Lubrication is provided through:

• Self-lubricating bearing materials
• Embedded or layered lubricant systems
• Composite or metallic bearing structures defined by the customer

These bearings are commonly specified where access for lubrication is limited or where consistent tribological behaviour is required.

Bearing Types & Constructions

KOK manufactures self-lubricating bearings in constructions commonly specified by OEMs and large-volume customers, including:

• Plain bearings
• Sleeve bearings
• Flanged sleeve bearings
• Low-friction self-lubricating bearing designs

All bearings are produced to customer-defined dimensions, tolerances, and material specifications.

Manufacturing to Drawing & DFM Support

Self-lubricating and maintenance-free bearings are manufactured according to customer-provided drawings and technical specifications.

As part of the development and launch process, KOK provides Design for Manufacturability (DFM) support, including review of:

• Manufacturability of geometry and tolerances
• Process feasibility and production stability
• Material and construction compatibility with manufacturing methods

Any feedback or proposed changes are limited to manufacturability and production robustness and do not alter the customer’s functional design intent.

Materials & Production Scope

KOK manufactures self-lubricating bearings using material systems specified by the customer, including metallic, composite, or layered bearing constructions.

Production is focused on:

• Dimensional consistency
• Stable friction and wear behaviour
• Repeatable performance across large production volumes

Application Context

• Automotive systems
• Motorcycles and scooters
• Heavy-duty vehicle applications
• Agricultural equipment
• Marine and corrosion-exposed environments

Manufacturing & Volume Capability

KOK supplies self-lubricating bearings for series production and high-volume requirements, supporting both OEM customers and large aftermarket distributors where production volumes justify dedicated manufacturing.

Scope Clarification

Self-lubricating and maintenance-free bearings supplied by KOK are produced for OEM and high-volume customers. They are not positioned as low-volume catalogue items but are suitable for series production and large-scale aftermarket supply.