Bearing Isolators Market is Segmented By Type (Contacting Isolators, Labyrinth Isolators, Others), By Material (Metallic, Non-Metallic), By End-User (Oil & Gas, Chemical Processing, Mining, Paper & Pulp, Metal Processing, Manufacturing & Processing, Others), By Distribution Channel (Offline, E-Commerce), and By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) – Share, Size, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2024-2031
Market Overview
The Bearing Isolators Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period 2024-2031
Bearing isolators are a type of technology that combines the properties of contact and non-contact seals in a single unit but uses the contact qualities to "drive" a portion of the seal at the rotating speed of the shaft. Individual contact or non-contact seals do not provide the same level of protection as these seals.
Bearing isolators replaced lip seals in industrial pumps used in various process sectors. The isolators were initially implemented as optional features by pump and motor manufacturers. But, they eventually became standard equipment on heavy-duty items. Bearing isolators are now utilized for safeguarding bearings in a wide range of rotating equipment, including process pumps, electric motors ranging from 12 to 10,000 hp, gearboxes, and mechanical drive steam turbines. In addition, they are used to extend the warranty of some manufacturers.
Market Summary
| Metrics | Details |
| Market CAGR | 6.2% |
| Segments Covered | By Type, By Material, By End-User, By Distribution Channel, and By Region |
| Report Insights Covered | Competitive Landscape Analysis, Company Profile Analysis, Market Size, Share, Growth, Demand, Recent Developments, Mergers and acquisitions, New Product Launches, Growth Strategies, Revenue Analysis, and Other key insights. |
| Fastest Growing Region | Asia Pacific |
| Largest Market Share | North America |
For more insights - Download the Sample
Market Dynamics
A greater emphasis on bearing protection as a technique of increasing overall equipment reliability is expected to drive the market. However, the high cost of bearing isolators is likely to restrain the market.
A greater emphasis on bearing protection as a technique of increasing overall equipment reliability
The most typical reason for failure in rotating equipment is bearing failure. Bearing failure, a primary source of equipment downtime and lost productivity, influence equipment reliability in all industries. In this instance, 50-80% of bearing failures occur due to lubricant leakage or contaminants entering the bearing housing, such as dirt and moisture. As a result, maintenance personnel pays a greater emphasis on bearing protection to improve overall equipment reliability.
A bearing isolator is a high-tech sealing technology used to preserve rotating machinery bearings. It reduces bearing failure by providing an additional layer of protection between the bearings and the surrounding environment. As a result, they are perfect for damp, unclean, dusty industries or have a high concentration of airborne contaminants.
Bearing isolators are thus utilized in various industries, including steel mills, food processing, chemical processing, mining, and pulp, and paper. The industries often employ much-rotating equipment and work in wet or unclean environments, making it difficult to preserve the bearing from premature wear.
The high cost of bearing isolators is likely to restrain the market
Bearing isolators are more expensive and take up more space than contact or non-contact seals. Bearing isolators, on average, cost 10 times as much as a standard rubber lip seal, yet installation is around the same. However, the increased initial expense of the isolator is frequently justified by its longer, more dependable life.
Isolators are frequently made of bronze, although they can also be made of stainless steel, titanium, and aluminum. If spinning equipment is routinely serviced and repaired, metal-bearing isolators can be reused for many years. In addition, bearing isolators do not necessitate lubrication or a particular shaft finish.
COVID-19 Impact on Bearing Isolators Market Growth
Heavy industries are the most significant industries that use bearing isolators. Even though heavy equipment is used locally, OEMs' value and supply chains are complex and scattered globally. The COVID-19 blockade has hampered the global flow of non-essential commodities and resources, putting a halt to heavy equipment production across the board.
Furthermore, present demand for industrial equipment has flattened or is expected to flatten in the second and third quarters of 2020. As we begin the road to recovery, demand will remain erratic in the months ahead due to uncertainty. It is projected that significant declines will follow months of high demand.
Market Segment Analysis
Based on type, the global bearing isolators market is segmented into contacting isolators, labyrinth isolators, and others.
A labyrinth isolator, also called a labyrinth seal, is a bearing isolator incorporating aspects of contact and non-contact seals into a single component. It is designed to prevent leakage and contamination by establishing a challenging path for both substances to follow. Labyrinth seals are made up of several stationary components while another rotates with the system. The two components interlock to provide a long, thin, grooved route through which substances cannot escape or pierce the bearing.
A labyrinth seal's complexity allows it to give great sealing qualities. Furthermore, it may protect against pollutants and prevent leaking without coming into contact with the inner ring. As a result, labyrinth isolators provide contact seal sealing while limiting extra friction like non-contact seal isolators.
While labyrinth seals combine the benefits of both touch and non-contact sealing, there are certain drawbacks. The first is that the design's complexity may necessitate more physical space than alternative seals, which might be challenging depending on your application. Second, labyrinth seals can be more expensive than other sealing solutions because of their complexity.
Market Geographical Share
The global bearing isolators market is segmented into North America, Europe, South America, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa based on geography.
North America is projected to have a significant market share because of the region's rising demand for bearing isolators from various end-use sectors such as chemical processing, oil & gas, manufacturing & processing, mining, and others. To fulfill the increased demand from these industries, leading businesses in this region have adopted organic strategies such as new product introductions.
For example, on March 3, 2017, InproSeal announced the new Inpro/Seal VB45-STM Bearing Isolator. The VB45-S is the latest in Inpro/industry-leading Seal's VB family of bearing isolator designs, which improve equipment reliability by providing permanent bearing protection. The VB45-S employs InproSeal's patented Interface to achieve an IP66 rating, the industry standard for premium ingress safeguard against powerful water jets from all directions and harmful dust particulates, making it one of the best-performing bearing isolators available.
Companies and Competitive Landscape
The global bearing isolators market is competitive and slightly fragmented with multinational businesses. Major players in the market include InproSeal, Aesseal, The Timken Company, Flowserve Corporation, Garlock Sealing Technologies, Parker Hannifin, John Crane, Baldor Electric Company, Inc., Elliott Group, and Advance Sealing Global, among others. The major players in the market are known to incorporate numerous market strategies to achieve growth in the global bearing isolators market; these include mergers, acquisitions, product launches, contributions, and collaborations.
InproSeal
Overview: InproSeal is a global pioneer in designing and manufacturing permanent bearing protection and complete shaft sealing solutions for rotating machinery in various sectors, prolonging bearing life and eliminating leakage. InproSeal became a Dover operating company in 2009 and is now a part of Dover Precision Components. Furthermore, the company is headquartered in Illinois, U.S.
Product Portfolio: InproSeal offers proven permanent bearing protection for rotating equipment such as motors, pumps, pillow blocks, gearboxes, and others.
Key Development:
- In March 2017, InproSeal launched the new Inpro/Seal VB45-STM bearing isolator. The VB45-S is the latest in Seal's VB family of bearing isolator designs, which improve equipment reliability by providing permanent bearing protection.
