Carter Aerospace Bearings

What Carter Aerospace Bearings does

Carter Aerospace Bearings, Inc. is a privately held precision bearing manufacturer headquartered in Spring Lake, Michigan. Founded in 1958 as Carter Bearings, the company designs and produces needle roller bearings for aerospace applications, with its core catalog products being the AS24462 Thin Shell Type II Needle Roller Bearing and the AS21442 Heavy Duty Type X Needle Track Roller, supplemented by a custom aerospace bearings capability for non-standard specifications.

The company serves aerospace OEMs and MRO operators across four end segments: commercial aerospace, military aerospace, space and defense systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Its products are manufactured to aerospace-grade specifications and the company holds AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 certifications, most recently renewed as Rev 2 in January 2025, which are baseline prerequisites for participation in aerospace OEM supply chains. Geographic focus is the USA and broader North American market.

The business operates with a 1-10 employee footprint and generates revenue through a combination of direct sales to OEMs and MRO operators and indirect sales via distribution partners. The company does not publicly disclose revenue, funding, or ownership details. No recent M&A, leadership changes, or capital raises are evidenced in the available data, consistent with a long-tenured, closely held specialty manufacturer.

Name

Carter Aerospace Bearings

Legal name

Carter Aerospace Bearings, Inc.

Website

https://carteraerobearings.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Carter Aerospace Bearings is a Michigan-based manufacturer, founded 1958, producing needle roller bearings and custom bearing solutions for aerospace OEMs and MRO operators across commercial, military, space, and UAV segments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Bearings Manufacturing

NAICS

Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing (332991), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Ball & Roller Bearings (3562), Aircraft & Parts (3720)

akta.pro primary industry

Aerospace Bearings, Bushings & Motion Components (IMABANAB)

Keywords

• Aerospace bearings
• Needle roller bearings
• Custom bearing solutions
• Precision bearings manufacturing
• Aerospace component manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Spring Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Aerospace Bearing Products: Sales of standard and custom high-performance aerospace bearings including the AS24462 Thin Shell Type II Needle Roller and AS21442 Heavy Duty Type X Needle Track Roller. Products are sold directly to OEMs and through distribution channels supporting both MRO and OEM markets.
2. Custom Bearing Design and Manufacturing Services: Engineering collaboration from concept through design, sampling, testing, and full production. Includes bearing life cycle testing and application validation services for specialized aerospace requirements.
3. Prototype and Production Services: Rapid prototyping and manufacturing services for proprietary and source-controlled aerospace bearing products, supporting customers from concept to market with efficient lead times.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Carter Aerospace Bearings manufactures high-performance bearings for the aerospace industry, offering both standard catalog products (the AS24462 Thin Shell Type II Needle Roller Bearing and the AS21442 Heavy Duty Type X Needle Track Roller) and fully custom-engineered bearing solutions. The company supports customers from concept and design through prototyping, testing, and full production, serving commercial, military, private, and governmental aerospace OEMs and the MRO market.

Product overview

Carter Aerospace Bearings is a manufacturer of high-performance aerospace bearings offering both standard products and custom bearing solutions. The core product portfolio includes the AS24462 Thin Shell Type II Needle Roller Bearing for compact, high-load applications and the AS21442 Heavy Duty Type X Needle Track Roller for demanding industrial uses. The company also provides fully custom aerospace bearings tailored to specific requirements for the Commercial, Private, and Governmental Aerospace industries. All products are designed, prototyped, and manufactured in the USA with AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 quality certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Aerospace Bearings Tailored bearing solutions engineered to meet unique aerospace application requirements, optimizing for load capacity, friction reduction, durability, and weight through material selection, specialized coatings, and lubrication options. Designed for aerospace OEMs and MRO operators when standard catalog bearings fall short.
• AS24462 Thin Shell Type II Needle Roller Bearing Compact, lightweight needle roller bearing with high load-carrying capacity, featuring a thin shell structure, precision-ground rollers, and corrosion-resistant plated materials. Designed for limited-space aerospace applications such as actuation systems, landing gear mechanisms, and wing flap/slat mechanisms.
• AS21442 Heavy Duty Type X Needle Track Roller Bearing Heavy-duty track roller bearing engineered for extreme loads and demanding applications, featuring high radial load capacity, shock resistance, corrosion-resistant plated materials, low friction operation, and tight tolerances. Used in aircraft cargo door, hatch, flap, slat actuation systems, and landing gear.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced weight for improved fuel efficiency in aircraft applications
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• NSK: Japanese global bearing manufacturer with an aerospace business producing ball bearings, roller bearings, and bearing units for aircraft applications. Established incumbent in the broader aerospace bearings market where Carter operates.
• NTN-SNR: Joint entity of Japanese NTN and French SNR focused on automotive and aerospace bearings, including needle roller bearings and track rollers relevant to Carter's product portfolio. Major incumbent competitor in aerospace bearings globally.
• SKF: Swedish global bearing leader with a dedicated aerospace division producing ball, roller, and specialty bearings for aircraft engines, gearboxes, and airframes. Represents the dominant incumbent Carter competes against in the aerospace bearings market.
• The Timken Company: U.S.-based engineered bearings and power transmission manufacturer with aerospace product lines serving engine, gearbox, and airframe applications. Broad incumbent competitor with significantly larger scale than Carter.
• Schaeffler: German manufacturer of bearings and motion components (INA, FAG, LuK brands) with significant aerospace product lines including needle roller and cylindrical roller bearings. Broad incumbent competing with Carter in aerospace motion component supply.
• JTEKT (Koyo Bearings): Japanese global bearing and steering systems manufacturer (Koyo brand) producing needle roller, ball, and tapered roller bearings with aerospace applications. Large incumbent with overlapping aerospace bearing product categories.

Direct peers

• Pacamor Kubar Bearings: Small U.S. manufacturer specializing in precision ball and roller bearings for aerospace and defense applications, including thin-section and needle roller designs. Closely comparable to Carter in scale, product niche, and customer profile.
• RBC Bearings: U.S.-based specialty bearing manufacturer with a major aerospace and defense segment, including needle roller and track roller products. Most directly comparable public peer to Carter due to overlapping aerospace bearing product lines and customer base.
• Silverthin Bearing Group: Manufacturer of thin-section bearings used in aerospace, robotics, and other space-constrained applications. Comparable to Carter's AS24462 thin-shell needle roller focus on compact, lightweight aerospace solutions.
• AST Bearings: U.S. specialty bearing distributor and manufacturer serving aerospace, defense, and industrial markets with thin-section, needle roller, and custom bearing solutions. Comparable to Carter in serving niche aerospace bearing requirements with custom engineering support.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carter-aerospace-bearings

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Carter Aerospace Bearings