PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company
PBC Linear is a US manufacturer of precision linear motion components, including self-lubricating plain bearings, linear guides, screws, and actuators built on proprietary Frelon PTFE liner technology. It serves industrial OEMs across automation, medical, aerospace, and heavy-equipment markets from its Roscoe, Illinois facility.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersRoscoe, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company does
PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company, is a US-based precision manufacturer of linear motion components founded in 1983 and headquartered in Roscoe, Illinois. The company designs and produces a catalog of more than 2,500 SKUs spanning self-lubricating plain linear bearings, recirculating ball bearings, roller pillow blocks, slewing rings, linear guides, lead and ball screw assemblies, and linear actuators available in inch, metric, and JIS standards. Its core technology is a proprietary family of Frelon PTFE-based bonded liners (FrelonGOLD, Frelon J, Frelon W, Frelon IM) that enable maintenance-free, oil-free operation across extreme temperatures (-400°F to +400°F), contamination, vibration, and harsh chemical environments. The portfolio is protected by a foundational patent from over 40 years ago and 15+ pending patents covering technologies such as Integral-V, the SIMO extrusion process, and Constant-Force Anti-Backlash lead screw nuts.
PBC Linear serves industrial OEMs and engineering customers across industrial automation, medical devices, aerospace and defense, renewable energy, food processing, and heavy equipment, with named customers including SpaceX, Danfoss, Ditch Witch, Tek84, LENSAR, Egg Medical, Enflite, and Oilgear. The company sells through a direct sales and inside sales team, a Configure CAD & Quote web platform, and an e-commerce storefront that supports self-serve browsing, configuration, and quote requests. Pricing is quote-based and varies by configuration, with volume discounts and custom liner and bearing solutions available to OEM customers. All products are manufactured at a 200,000-square-foot facility in Illinois and shipped globally, supported by technical marketing assets including white papers, application stories, configurators, trade shows, and an active social presence.
The business model is a one-time product sale model with no disclosed subscription or recurring revenue component. PBC Linear is privately held with no parent company, institutional investors, or venture capital backing disclosed, and is led by Robert Schroeder (CEO) and Jonathan Schroeder (Vice President), consistent with a family-controlled industrial manufacturer. The company holds RoHS, REACH SVHC, and conflict minerals compliance, signaling adherence to global supply chain standards required by its international OEM customer base.
PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company
- Legal name
- PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company
- Website
- https://pbclinear.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- PBC Linear is a US manufacturer of precision linear motion components, including self-lubricating plain bearings, linear guides, screws, and actuators built on proprietary Frelon PTFE liner technology. It serves industrial OEMs across automation, medical, aerospace, and heavy-equipment markets from its Roscoe, Illinois facility.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Linear Motion Components and Systems
- NAICS
- Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing (332991), Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612), Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing (33272)
- SIC
- Ball & Roller Bearings (3562), Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Linear Motion & Mechanical Power Transmission (Ball/roller screws, linear guides, bearings, couplings) (IMAHAGAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Linear Motion & Actuation (Linear Motors, Electric Cylinders, Actuators) (IMAGACAG)
Keywords
Where PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Roscoe
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Linear Motion Components Sales: Direct sales of precision-engineered linear motion components including linear bearings, linear guides, linear actuators, lead screws, ball screws, shafts, and related products. Products sold through e-commerce store, phone sales, and configure/quote process. Revenue is transaction-based with product pricing varying by size, material, and configuration.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based pricing for configured products |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PBC Linear manufactures and sells precision-engineered linear motion components and systems from its 200,000-square-foot US facility in Roscoe, Illinois. Its portfolio includes self-lubricating Simplicity plain linear bearings with proprietary FrelonGOLD liners, EconoGlide polymer-lined bearings, linear ball bearings, roller pillow blocks, linear shafting, slew ring bearings, gliding surface and cam roller linear guides, lead screw and ball screw assemblies, and a full range of linear actuators. Products are available in inch, metric, and JIS standards and are sold via e-commerce, direct sales, and configure-and-quote channels to industrial OEMs, manufacturers, and engineering firms.
Product overview
PBC Linear is a major US manufacturer of precision-engineered linear motion components and systems operating from a 200,000-square-foot facility in Roscoe, Illinois. The product portfolio includes self-lubricating Simplicity plain linear bearings with proprietary FrelonGOLD liners, EconoGlide polymer-lined plain bearings, linear ball bearings, roller pillow blocks, and linear shafting. Linear guide offerings encompass Uni-Guide and Mini-Rail gliding surface slides, Integral-V systems, and multiple cam-roller guide families including Redi-Rail, Hevi-Rail, Steel Rail, Commercial Rail, and V-Guide. The company also produces precision lead screw and ball screw assemblies, and a comprehensive range of linear actuators from miniature to heavy-duty (MTB, MUK, Simplicity Series) including belt-driven and ball screw configurations. The portfolio spans light-duty positioning to demanding industrial automation applications with products available in inch, metric, and JIS sizes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Simplicity Plain Linear Bearings Self-lubricating plain linear bearings with proprietary FrelonGOLD PTFE-based liner bonded directly to the bore, providing maintenance-free linear motion in harsh environments from -400°F to +400°F for industrial OEMs and machinery manufacturers.
- EconoGlide Plain Linear Bearings Lower-cost polymer-lined plain linear bearings with Frelon IM insert for economical, self-lubricating, maintenance-free operation in dusty environments for industrial OEMs.
- Linear Ball Bearings High-precision recirculating ball bearings for applications requiring low rolling resistance, higher speeds, and accurate positioning in industrial automation.
- Roller Pillow Blocks Heavy-duty linear bearings using sets of 3 coated rollers within an open housing for loads up to 350 kN on uneven surfaces, used in industrial machinery.
- Linear Shafting Linear shafts in RC60 hardened steel, 300/400 series stainless steel, and ceramic-coated aluminum, optimized to match PBC Linear's bearing technologies.
- Slew Ring Bearings Compact slewing ring bearings with outside diameters 80mm to 310mm for smooth controlled rotation under combined axial, radial, and moment loads in renewable energy and industrial applications.
- Uni-Guide Linear Slides Gliding surface linear slides combining rail and carriage into a compact, low-maintenance assembly with anodized aluminum surface that resists contaminants.
- Mini-Rail Linear Slides Square linear guides serving as dimensionally interchangeable, maintenance-free substitute for profile rails in space-constrained applications.
- Integral-V Linear Guides V-type rail and roller linear motion systems for high speed, rigidity, and repeatable motion, eliminating fasteners and reducing mounting components by 40%.
- Redi-Rail Cam Roller Linear Guides Cam-roller linear guides for high-speed, moderate-load applications with corrosion resistance, used in industrial automation.
- Hevi-Rail Heavy-Duty Linear Guides Cost-effective high-load capacity linear motion system for industrial-strength handling applications.
- Steel Rail and Steel Rail Plus Linear Guides High load capacity linear guides for precise movement in compact spaces, with Steel Rail Plus offering misalignment compensation for parallel rail applications.
- Lead Screw Assemblies Precision lead screws with patented Constant-Force Anti-Backlash Nuts offering 2-4x less backlash over screw life and self-lubricating operation.
- Ball Screw Assemblies USA-made precision ball screws including miniature metric and cylindrical threaded nut variants with screw diameters from 6mm to 16mm, plus newly introduced Transitional Backlash fit options for enhanced rigidity and positional accuracy.
- MTB Linear Actuator Series Belt-driven linear actuators for large applications with maximum stroke of 6,000mm and maximum load of 1,012 lb (4,500 N).
- MUK Linear Actuator Series Ball screw profile rail actuators for medium-to-large applications with maximum stroke of 1,750mm and maximum load of 2,518 lb (11,200 N).
- Simplicity Linear Slide Assemblies Plain linear bearing slide assemblies for heavy loads up to 18,749 lb (83,400 N) with maximum stroke of 2,440mm.
- Compact Series (CS) Linear Actuators Compact linear guide system actuators with maximum stroke of 1,000mm and maximum load of 320 lb (1,425 N).
- UG Series Linear Motion Platform (SIMO) Multi-axis linear motion platform produced with proprietary SIMO extrusion process, with maximum stroke of 1,400mm and maximum load of 360 lb (1,600 N).
- PLA Linear Actuator Series Ball screw V-rail linear actuators for medium applications with maximum stroke of 2,710mm and maximum load of 220 lb (980 N).
- MTE Belt Driven Linear Actuators High-speed belt-driven linear actuators for multi-axis Cartesian systems with a compact footprint, available in 55mm and 80mm profile sizes for long strokes and high speeds.
- MTS Belt Driven Linear Actuators High-speed belt-driven linear actuators for multi-axis, medium-to-large Cartesian gantry systems with elevated payloads and increased load capacity.
- Non-Captive Lead Screw Linear Actuators (LN Series) Motorized lead screw assemblies in which the motor is integrated with the nut and the lead screw passes completely through, rotating while moving axially.
- Captive Lead Screw Linear Actuators (LC Series) Lead screw actuators with the lead screw nut injection-molded directly into the motor rotor for precise linear motion.
- Heavy Duty Steel Drawer Slides Telescopic linear rail assemblies for industrial trays, sliding platforms, access panels, and load-bearing applications.
- Flanged Plain Linear Bearings Self-lubricating flanged linear bearings with aluminum housing and Frelon liner, operating from -400°F to +400°F with loads up to 284,765 N, including EconoGlide square and round flanged variants.
- Plain Linear Pillow Block Bearings Mountable housings for plain bearings with self-aligning and self-lubricating FrelonGOLD liners for oil-free operation, including stainless steel variants with FrelonJ liner for harsh chemical environments.
- V-Guide V-Rails and V-Wheels V-wheel linear guides with dual-row angular contact roller bearings for low-friction guidance in washdown applications, including newly introduced double-sealed stainless steel variants.
Quantifiable outcome
- Operating temperature range from -400°F to +400°F (-240°C to +204°C)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SKF Group: World's largest bearing manufacturer with a growing linear motion and motion control portfolio. Overlaps with PBC in linear bearings and shafting; differs in being a much broader industrial conglomerate with strong global distribution and aftermarket service networks.
- Timken: US-based manufacturer of bearings, linear motion products, power transmission, and industrial drive systems. Broad incumbent competitor with overlap in roller bearings, linear motion, and engineered bearings for industrial and aerospace applications.
- Bosch Rexroth: Global leader in factory automation, linear motion, and drive technology within the Bosch Group. Competes with PBC in linear guides, ball screws, and linear actuators, particularly in industrial automation and machine tool applications, with much larger scale and systems integration capability.
- NSK Ltd. One of the world's largest bearing and motion control manufacturers with broad product lines including linear guides, ball screws, and mechatronics. PBC competes with NSK in linear bearings and ball screws, but NSK serves a vastly wider product and customer portfolio.
Direct peers
- Hiwin Technologies: Taiwan-based manufacturer of linear guides, ball screws, linear actuators, and motion control systems. Direct head-to-head competitor across PBC's core product families, particularly in industrial automation and machine tool applications, with global manufacturing and distribution.
- Misumi USA: Configurable linear motion components and factory automation parts supplier with strong e-commerce configuration tools similar to PBC's Configure CAD & Quote system. Overlaps in linear guides, ball screws, lead screws, and linear actuators, particularly in engineer-to-order and small-to-mid OEM segments.
- THK Co., Ltd. Global leader in linear motion with the original LM guide (linear ball bearing) patent. THK directly competes with PBC across linear bearings, linear guides, ball screws, and actuators, serving many of the same industrial automation, semiconductor, and machine tool OEMs. Largest pure-play peer.
- Schneeberger: Swiss precision manufacturer specializing in linear bearings, profile rail guides, ball screws, and positioning systems. Closely comparable niche competitor with similar focus on high-precision, custom-engineered linear motion solutions for machine tools and medical/semiconductor customers.
- Igus: German manufacturer specializing in polymer-based self-lubricating plain bearings, linear guides, and cable carriers. Most direct competitor to PBC's FrelonGOLD plain bearing technology, often substituting for similar maintenance-free harsh-environment applications with a more catalog-driven, e-commerce-led model.
- IKO International: Manufacturer of linear motion products including linear guides, linear ball bearings, cam followers, and precision positioning tables. Directly comparable product portfolio and target customer base, with strong positioning in precision automation and semiconductor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company social profiles
Digital presencePBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company
What does PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company do?
PBC Linear manufactures and sells precision-engineered linear motion components and systems from its 200,000-square-foot US facility in Roscoe, Illinois. Its portfolio includes self-lubricating Simplicity plain linear bearings with proprietary FrelonGOLD liners, EconoGlide polymer-lined bearings, linear ball bearings, roller pillow blocks, linear shafting, slew ring bearings, gliding surface and cam roller linear guides, lead screw and ball screw assemblies, and a full range of linear actuators. Products are available in inch, metric, and JIS standards and are sold via e-commerce, direct sales, and configure-and-quote channels to industrial OEMs, manufacturers, and engineering firms.
Is PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company a public or private company?
PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company founded?
PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company was founded in 1983. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company based?
PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company is headquartered in Roscoe, United States, in the North America region.
How does PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company make money?
One revenue line is on record: linear Motion Components Sales.
Who are PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SKF Group, Timken, Bosch Rexroth and NSK Ltd.. Direct peers are Hiwin Technologies, Misumi USA, THK Co., Ltd., Schneeberger, Igus and IKO International.
Does PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company.
What industry is PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company in?
PBC Linear, A Pacific Bearing Company's product category is Linear Motion Components and Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAGAM, Linear Motion & Mechanical Power Transmission (Ball/roller screws, linear guides, bearings, couplings), with a secondary code of IMAGACAG, Linear Motion & Actuation (Linear Motors, Electric Cylinders, Actuators). Its NAICS code is 332991 and its SIC code is 3562.