What Michell Bearings does

Michell Bearings, founded in 1920 in the United Kingdom and headquartered in South Shields, designs and manufactures hydrodynamic bearings - principally white metal (babbitt) and PTFE-lined tilting pad bearings, with an expanding PEEK product line. The firm operates as the original inventor of the hydrodynamic tilting pad bearing concept (patented by A.G.M. Michell in 1905) and has built a 100+ year track record in safety-critical applications, with its products installed on more than 500 vessels across 41 navies and in nuclear, hydropower and large industrial rotating equipment worldwide. Manufacturing is replicated across a UK headquarters facility, a 4,500 sqm plant in Bangalore, India (operating since 1995 in joint venture with Malpani Holdings), and US operations including an 8,500 sqft assembly site in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and a sales/engineering office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The company monetizes through two revenue streams: bespoke hardware sales of journal, thrust, horizontal and vertical bearings in modular AV, LV, V, MV, IH, HD, SE and Omega series configurations, alongside a repair, service and spares business that includes 24-hour manufacturing capability for urgent bearing repair and in-house testing services such as station-blackout validation. Pricing is project-based and not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales coordinated from the UK, regional sales and engineering offices in the US, an authorized distributor (Delta Marine & Industries) in Vietnam, and a long-established network of sales representatives worldwide. Go-to-market motion is supplemented by technical publications, industry exhibitions (SMM Hamburg, Sea Air Space, Hydrovision, Clean Currents, SNA National Symposium) and recently a localized German-language website for the DACH market.

End markets are dominated by three primary verticals - naval defense, hydropower and nuclear power - with secondary exposure to commercial marine, industrial pumps, and motors/generators. Named customers include the UK Royal Navy and US Navy, Rolls-Royce Marine, TVA, Ontario Power Generation, ANDRITZ Hydro, American Hydro, Canyon Hydro, BHEL (24-year relationship), Xylem, Goulds Pumps and Kirloskar Brothers. The business is privately held under the British Engines Group (acquired 2015) and holds ISO 9001/14001/45001, Fit for Nuclear and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications across its UK and India sites.

Name

Michell Bearings

Legal name

Michell Bearings

Website

https://michellbearings.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Michell Bearings is a UK-based manufacturer of hydrodynamic tilting pad bearings (white metal, PTFE and PEEK) for nuclear, hydropower, naval defense and industrial markets, operating from facilities in the UK, India and the USA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

South Shields

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hydrodynamic Bearings Manufacturing and Sales: Design, manufacture, and sale of hydrodynamic white metal and PTFE lined bearings. Products include journal bearings, thrust bearings, vertical bearings, horizontal bearings, marine bearings, and tilting pad bearings for industrial, commercial marine, and naval markets. Revenue from new product sales and spare parts.
2. Bearing Repair and Service: Dedicated bearing repair service specializing in white metal bearings and associated components. Services include damage diagnosis, repair, on-site service, maintenance, and spare parts supply. 24-hour manufacturing capability for urgent repairs.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Michell Bearings designs and manufactures hydrodynamic white metal (babbitt) and PTFE-lined tilting pad bearings for industrial, commercial marine, and naval markets. The company produces journal bearings, thrust bearings, vertical and horizontal bearings, marine bearings, and PEEK/PTFE material variants, plus dedicated bearing repair and testing services including station blackout (SBO) capability verification.

Product overview

Michell Bearings is a leading manufacturer of hydrodynamic bearings specialising in the design and manufacture of white metal (babbitt) and PTFE-lined tilting pad bearings for the industrial, commercial marine, and naval markets. The company's product portfolio includes vertical bearings (AV, LV, V, and MV Series covering shaft diameters from 68mm to over 600mm), horizontal bearings (HD and IH Series for shafts from 280mm to 1000mm), and tilting pad bearings (SE Series, Omega Series, Omega Equalised Series, and Journal Pad Units). Marine-specific products include gearbox internals, propulsion motor and generator bearings, line shaft bearings, and thrust blocks. Advanced material variants include PTFE bearings (with approximately twice the load capacity of white metal) and PEEK bearings (for high temperature applications). The company also offers bearing testing services including custom test rig development and station blackout testing, along with comprehensive repair and service capabilities. Michell Bearings holds over 100 years of heritage as the inventor of the hydrodynamic bearing and operates manufacturing facilities in the UK and India, with US operations through Michell Bearings Inc.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hydrodynamic Bearings Primary product line encompassing hydrodynamic white metal (babbitt) and PTFE-lined bearings engineered using the tilting pad bearing technology invented by A.G.M. Michell, designed for industrial, commercial marine, and naval applications.
• Advanced Vertical (AV) Series Modular range of vertical thrust and guide bearings covering a shaft range of 68-411mm across 9 frame sizes, designed for vertical pump and motor applications.
• Large Vertical (LV) Series Modular range of high capacity vertical shaft thrust and guide bearings covering a shaft diameter range of 300-600mm across 4 frame sizes.
• V Series Thrust and guide bearings for shaft diameters up to 411mm and axial load capacity up to 738kN, designed as self-contained, general purpose modular assemblies for vertical shaft applications.
• MV Series Custom vertical shaft bearing solutions for machine applications that cannot be satisfied using the standard AV, LV, or V product ranges.
• Heavy Duty (HD) Series Modular range of high capacity horizontal shaft thrust and journal bearings covering a shaft range from 300mm to 500mm across 2 frame sizes.
• Industrial Horizontal (IH) Series Modular range of horizontal shaft thrust and journal bearings covering a shaft range from 280mm to 1000mm across 11 frame sizes.
• Self Equalised (SE) Series Range of equalised thrust bearing internals with interacting equalising levers behind the thrust pads, allowing thrust loads to be mechanically equalised across the complete thrust face. Used in turbo expanders and other applications.
• Omega Series Thrust bearings offering various thrust pad sizes in different combinations (6-18 pads) to allow selection of the most appropriate thrust bearing for specific applications. Available in equalised and non-equalised configurations.
• Omega Equalised Series Range of equalised thrust bearing internals with equalisation levers behind the thrust pads, suitable for turbo expander and high-performance industrial applications.
• Journal Pad Units (JPU) Standard range of journal bearing pad units with a steel housing seating five uniquely designed centre-pivoted journal pads, covering shaft diameter range from 40mm to 300mm.
• Marine Gearbox Internals Bearing products for marine gearbox applications including thrust and journal bearings designed for the demanding conditions of naval and commercial marine propulsion systems.
• Marine Propulsion Motor and Generator Bearings Bearings designed and manufactured for propulsion motor and generator applications in both naval and commercial marine environments.
• Line Shaft Bearings Bearings designed and manufactured for line shaft applications in naval and commercial marine vessels, providing radial support for propeller shafts.
• Thrust Blocks Main propulsion thrust blocks designed for all types of surface ships and submarines, with over 100 years of design experience for naval applications. Proven to withstand shock conditions with optional self-contained water cooling, thrust measurement, and resonance changing capability.
• PTFE Bearings Polytetrafluoroethylene-lined hydrodynamic bearings offering approximately twice the specific load capacity of white metal. PTFE material provides greater safety factor, enhanced durability, and proven track record in hydropower, nuclear, and marine applications.
• PEEK Bearings Polyether ether ketone-lined bearings offering high strength and higher temperature resistance advantages, suited to high speed and/or high load applications.
• Bearing Testing In-house bearing testing services including station blackout (SBO) testing, performance validation, and custom test rig development for verifying bearing capabilities under simulated operating conditions.
• Repair and Service Comprehensive bearing repair and service capabilities including bearing damage diagnosis, white metal journal pad repairs, bearing re-engineering, and on-site maintenance. Services available globally with 24-hour manufacturing capability for urgent repairs.

Quantifiable outcome

• PTFE material provides approximately twice the specific load capacity compared to white metal (babbitt) bearings
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered project, regional, key project, key event, core, knowledge sharing, parent and foundational.

• SCJ Electrical & RenewablesprojectImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 7 August 2025Lead contractor for landmark solar installation at Simonside UK facility. Project involves 2,500 solar panels capable of over 600 watts each, 12 Solis 110kW inverters, and over 100km of electrical cabling. SCJ approached project with professionalism, flexibility, and understanding of operational needs allowing continued production with minimal disruption.
• Delta Marine & Industries Co LtdregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2022Delta Marine & Industries, incorporated in 2015 with offices in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi & Hoi An City, appointed as authorized distributor for Michell Bearings products and services in Vietnam. Company has strong relationships with both OEM and end users in Vietnam. Scope includes complete range of industrial and marine products including spares, repair and service.
• ANDRITZ Hydro Canadakey projectStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2022Michell Bearings secured order from ANDRITZ Hydro Canada to provide three sets of PTFE thrust pads for Sir Adam Beck I hydropower station. ANDRITZ is the prime contractor for the modernization project. Project situated close to Niagara Falls, operated by Ontario Power Generation.
• Sea, Air, Space Exhibitionkey eventGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 August 2021Incorporation of Michell Bearings Inc. announced at Sea, Air, Space exhibition in Maryland. First time exhibiting at a naval show in the USA. Booth 321 at 2022 event. Significant milestone for business engagement with US naval market.
• Make In India Initiative / Nuclear Business PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2021Partnership with Nuclear Business Platform as part of supporting Make In India initiative. Indian Government encouraging localization of equipment for future nuclear power projects with target of 22,480 MW by 2031 from 6,780MW. Michell Bearings India positioned as key solutions provider with 100% Indian material and manufacturing content capability.
• Nuclear Business Platform (NBP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2021Engagement with NBP to promote Michell Bearings' capabilities in Indian nuclear sector. NBP brings together over 320 primary stakeholders from Indian nuclear power market including nuclear companies and government bodies. Geoff Humble, Sales and Marketing Director, speaking at INBP Lite 2021 online event. Partnership coincides with Indian Government's plans to expand nuclear power capacity from 6,780MW to 22,480MW by 2031.
• EDF/Pprimeknowledge sharingTechnology or Integration · 18 October 2019Engineering Director Paul Bruce delivered technical session at EDF/Pprime conference in Paris. Conference held every two years bringing together academics, manufacturers and end users to discuss latest developments regarding sliding bearings.
• Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE)knowledge sharingTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2019CEO Steve Dixon presented PTFE research at STLE Annual Meeting and Exhibition in Nashville. Event considered lubricant industry's most respected for technical information, professional development and international networking. Research on performance of small centre pivoted PTFE thrust bearings in low to medium speed applications.
• British Engines GroupparentStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Michell Bearings acquired by British Engines Group in 2015. Group comprises 8 companies: CMP Products, BEL Valves, BEL Engineering, Rotary Power, Michell Bearings, Stephenson Gobin, Stadium Export Services, and Tyne Pressure Testing. British Engines increased headcount by 45 people during 2021 and launched '100 jobs for 100 years' campaign. Solar installation at Simonside facility completed by BEL Engineered Solutions.
• Malpani HoldingsfoundationalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Joint venture established in 1994 with Malpani Holdings (Michell Bearings' representative in India) following long evaluation process. Michell Bearings India commenced production in 1995. Malpani Holdings remains involved with A.P. Malpani as Managing Director of Michell Bearings India.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Schaeffler: Major diversified bearing manufacturer (INA, FAG, LuK brands) supplying industrial, automotive, and aerospace markets. Broad incumbent rather than direct niche competitor, but competes for large industrial pump and motor customers.
• SKF: Global leader in bearings and rotating equipment with extensive product range including specialty bearings for industrial, marine, and energy applications. Overlaps with Michell in industrial segments but lacks comparable niche specialization in hydrodynamic tilting pad technology.

Emerging players

• GGB (EnPro Industries): Manufacturer of polymer and self-lubricating plain bearings for industrial applications. Partial overlap in polymer bearing technology but focuses on smaller-scale industrial applications rather than large hydrodynamic bearings.

Direct peers

• Waukesha Bearings: Part of Dover Corporation, Waukesha Bearings designs and manufactures hydrodynamic tilting pad and journal bearings for similar industrial, marine, and turbomachinery applications. Directly comparable product portfolio and customer base to Michell Bearings.
• Kingsbury Bearings: US-based manufacturer of tilting pad thrust and journal bearings serving turbomachinery, power generation, and marine markets. Direct competitor in hydrodynamic bearing technology with overlapping customer applications in nuclear, hydro, and naval.
• Glacier Metal Company: UK-based manufacturer of bearings and engineered components including hydrodynamic and polymer bearings. Historical peer with similar marine and industrial customer base in the United Kingdom.
• Renk Group: German manufacturer of specialized drive technology including bearings and gear systems for naval, marine, and industrial applications. Comparable in marine/naval propulsion bearing offerings and European defense customer base.
• Miba Bearings: Austrian specialist manufacturer of hydrodynamic bearings including tilting pad thrust bearings for hydropower, marine propulsion, and industrial applications. Closely comparable in technology and end markets to Michell Bearings.
• Thordon Bearings: Canadian specialist in marine bearings including propeller shaft and stern tube bearings. Comparable in marine market focus and bespoke bearing solutions, though focused on different bearing types than Michell's tilting pad products.

Regional players

• Tunçmatik / Hempel Marine (Marine Bearings): Regional bearing and marine equipment providers serving specific geographies (e.g., Turkey, Middle East, SE Asia). Comparable in marine bearings distribution and service, but smaller scale than Michell's global operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UConmgcraB7jT-D__UqoNY6w
• Facebookfacebook.com/britishengines
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michell-bearings-limited

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Michell Bearings