Slide Bearings

Whether in high-performance combustion engines, modern axle and brake systems, gearboxes, differentials, or hydraulic pumps. Wieland slide bearings ensure smooth operation worldwide. They also prove their reliability in oscillating applications such as booms or gripper systems in construction and agricultural machinery. With more than 150 active alloys, Wieland offers a unique materials portfolio that provides solutions for a variety of requirements.

Wide range of solutions

Wieland offers a comprehensive spectrum of slide bearing solutions:

Slide bearing bushes and thrust washers
Manufactured from Wieland strip, tube, or rod, available in nearly all dimensions. Whether with a smooth running surface, grooves, lubrication pockets, or special reservoirs; every version is manufactured to order and ready for installation.
Special parts and assemblies
Milled and turned parts, nuts, or threaded inserts made from copper alloys, individually combined and produced according to customer specifications.
Slide shoes and high-performance alloys
Our slide shoes are high-precision sliding elements that can be used reliably even under high dynamic loads, for example in axial piston pumps, engine construction, and demanding industrial applications.
High-performance coatings (AFC & HPC)
With PFAS-free sliding and polymer coatings, Wieland sets new industry standards. They reduce friction, extend service life, enable energy savings, and already comply with upcoming EU regulations.

Your benefits at a glance

Low-maintenance to maintenance-free operation
Cost savings through the elimination of complex lubrication systems
No contamination from oil or grease
Seawater- and corrosion-resistant
Temperature-resistant and capable of withstanding dynamic loads
Flexible designs according to drawings and batch sizes

Fields of application

Our slide bearings are used in:

Automotive industry (pistons, connecting rods, brake systems, gearboxes)
General machinery and plant engineering
Hydraulic and pump systems
Cranes, construction, and agricultural machinery
Rolling mills and steelworks
Locks, weir systems, and industrial furnace construction
Food processing and packaging machinery

A leading manufacturer with global presence

As one of the leading suppliers of slide bearings and copper alloys, Wieland combines decades of materials expertise with state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies. Our made-to-order production offers maximum flexibility, from prototypes to series production. With sites in Europe, North America, and Asia, we stand for customer proximity, quality, and innovation worldwide.

Working with the best

Wieland collaborates closely with leading industrial companies to develop tailor-made solutions. This interplay of expertise, innovation, and customer focus makes us a reliable partner for slide bearings that meet the highest standards of precision, efficiency, and sustainability.

Rely on Wieland to set your projects in motion with innovative slide bearings.

Our range of products

Our slide bearings at a glance.

Our complete product range

To show the product portfolio of a specific location, please select the company:

Thrust washers

Turned bushings

Rolled bushings

Special parts

Solid lubricants

Coatings

Thrust washers are manufactured from Wieland strip, tubes, and rods. In particular, washers punched out of strip material are very economical in large quantities. You can order thrust washers made from strip as well as tubes and rods in almost every dimension and material. The design can be customized.

With over 150 active alloys we offer you a great range of materials - find the right solutions for your application.

Materials

Dimension range:

With plain running surface up to 155 mm diameter
With lubrication indents up to 110 mm diameter
In standard thicknesses of 1.0 / 1.5 / 2.0 / 2.5 and 3.0 mm
Other sizes upon request

Further designs:

With grooves
With safety dogs
As a segment
Curved / Convex

Characteristics and properties of products / materials in this document are generic and provided solely for general information purposes. Any statement regarding the suitability of products / materials for certain types of applications is based on typical requirements and does not replace expert advice. Wieland disclaims all liability arising from any reliance on these documents.

With over 150 active alloys we offer you a great range of materials - find the right solutions for your application.

Materials

Performance demands on steel pistons and connecting rods are constantly rising. For extreme loads Wieland-U17 is used. For medium loads also Wieland-SB8 can be used. With respect to connecting-rod bushings Wieland offers to do a PC calculation for the design.

Wieland U17 and Wieland-L67
Bushings for engines, in particular for pistons and connecting rods, should always be made of wrought alloys and not of cast alloys.

Wieland-L67 for machined bushings
Best press fit of all materials (press-out force equal to or higher than press-in force)

Very good corrosion resistance
Both alloys are wrought alloys
Coefficient of expansion L66/L67, (20°C – 300°C) 18x10-6xK-1

Wieland-U17

Excellent for steel pistons
Load resistance (see link on the right)
Excellent corrosion resistance
Wrought alloy (important: no casting)

The very high pressures in axial piston pumps are a challenge for the material and precision of the parts. High-strength materials are increasingly being used for this application. Sleeves in Wieland SA5 is a special brass which has been specially developed for sleeves in axial piston pumps and successfully used in practical applications for many years. The addition of manganese and silicon results in the formation of hard manganese silicides making the material extremely wear-resistant.

Slippers in special brass materials Wieland-SA9 and Wieland-SB7

Slippers not only constitute high-precision bearing elements but are also exposed to extremely high stresses. The two special brass materials, which form hard silicides due to the addition of manganese and silicon and are therefore highly wear-resistant, also exhibit high fatigue strength. Due to these properties they can be used without problems under high dynamic load and at high operating temperatures.

Depending on the requirement, our solid lubricant pockets are designed for movement in axial and radial as well as for movement in two sliding directions at the same time. These solid lubricant pockets are made of different bearing materials such as Carobronze or Alcaro.

Benefits

Maintenance-free / low-maintenance
Cost savings (no costly lubrication systems)
No contamination by oil or grease
Seawater-resistant
No stick-slip
Temperature-resistant
According to your specific drawing, information and quantity
High flexibility through made-to-order production

Particularly suitable for medium to high load

with simultaneously low sliding speeds, oscillating movements, intermittent operation
in applications where oil and grease are not desired

Types

Plain bearing bushes
Thrust washers
Bearing pads
Drawing parts

Applications

Mechanical engineering
Automotive industry
Steel works
Rolling mill machinery
Locks and weirs for surface and underwater engineering
Industrial furnace manufacturing
Food- and packaging machinery
and much more

New piston designs have become necessary due to legislation for pollutant emission of diesel engines. These design changes result in rising temperatures in the combustion chamber of the engine, with hot tensile strength and hot hardness of the bushings becoming increasingly important.

Bushings made of Wieland-SB8 and Wieland-SC5 are particularly suitable for the reinforcement of the piston eye.

Bushings in Wieland-SB8 and Wieland-SC5:

are particularly suitable for aluminium pistons
are wrought alloys (important: no casting) which are hot and cold worked
have excellent hot tensile strength
have outstanding oil corrosion resistance
have dynamic load resistance up to 170 MPa, with Wieland-SC5 even more than 170 MPa.

For Industrial Application

Benefit from our longstanding experience in application consulting: We offer customised solutions that meet the highest requirements.

We manufacture all solid plain bearings to order – ready to fit

to DIN ISO 4379
to your specific drawing, information and quantities
in standard bearing materials and high-performance bearing materials
high flexibility through made-to-order production
cost- and material savings through particularly thin-walled and narrow plain bearing bushes made of high-performance alloys

Applications

Crane- and construction vehicles
Engine manufacturing
Plant engineering
Transmission manufacturing
Printing machines
Automotive industry
Compressors / pumps
Packing machines
General mechanical engineering

With over 150 active alloys we offer you a great range of materials - find the right solutions for your application.

Materials

Plain slide bearings are used in slide bearing applications where adequate lubrication is guaranteed.

Possible designs:

Slide bearings with plain surfaces and flange
Additionally with grooves and holes for lubricant supply

The lubrication indents (ST) have different shapes in order to handle different lubricating assignments. Diamond-shaped lubrication indents are preferably used for grease lubrication, the spherical indents are used for liquid lubricants such as oil.

Advantages:

Guaranteed function without frequent relubrication
Deposit of foreign particles in the lubrication indents
Can be reduced to any width without any disadvantages for the lubrication indents
Better press fit and higher load capacity than LD bushings

Slide bearings with hole pattern (LD = long-term lubrication with depot) are suitable for all types of grease. Bushings with lubrication indents ST can easily be replaced by slide bearings with hole pattern LD.

Advantages:

Significantly larger grease depot compared to bushings with grooves or lubrication indents
Extension of the running time and the relubrication interval compared to ST bushings
Collection of dirt and wear particles in the lubrication holes

Slide bearings with seals LDD/STD* can be delivered with seals inserted on one or both sides, depending on the application. This slide bearing type is specially designed for thinwalled slide bearings.

Advantages:

Significant running time extension by optimal lubrication and protection against penetrating moisture and dirt in comparison to ST and LD bushings
Minimal space requirements compared to standard seals
Only one assembly part instead of different single parts
Seals and slide bearings are 100% recycable
Any common type of grease can be used
Easy installation

*LDD = Long-term lubrication with depot and seal
*STD = Lubrication pockets with seal

The very high pressures in axial piston pumps are a challenge to the material and the precision of the parts. Therefore high-strength materials are increasingly used in the following applications.

Wieland SA5 is a special brass which has been specially developed for sleeves in axial piston pumps and which has been successfully used in serial production for many years. The addition of manganese and silicon results in the formation of hard manganese silicides making the material extremely wear-resistant. The lead-free alternative today is Wieland SX1.

Slippers are not only high precision bearing elements, they are also exposed to extreme high loads. The used special brasses, which form hard silicides due to the addition of manganese and silicon, have not only a very high wear resistance but also a very high fatigue strength. Due to these properties they can be used without any problems under high dynamic loads and at high operating temperatures.

In the field of special parts, we specialize in the manufacture of assemblies made of different material combinations as well as in the manufacture of other milled and turned parts, screws, nuts, thread inserts, etc. These products are made of different materials such as copper and aluminum alloys as well as partly steel and cast steel.

Types

Assemblies made of different material combinations
Milled and turned parts
Hot-stamped parts
Screws
Nuts

With over 150 active alloys we offer you a great range of materials - find the right solutions for your application.

Benefits

Maintenance-free / low-maintenance
Cost savings (no costly lubrication systems)
No contamination by oil or grease
Seawater-resistant
No stick-slip
Temperature-resistant
According to your specific drawing, information and quantity
High flexibility through made-to-order production

Particularly suitable for medium to high load

with simultaneously low sliding speeds, oscillating movements, intermittent operation
in applications where oil and grease are not desired

Types

Plain bearing bushes
Thrust washers
Bearing pads
Drawing parts

Applications

Mechanical engineering
Automotive industry
Steel works
Rolling mill machinery
Locks and weirs for surface and underwater engineering
Industrial furnace manufacturing
Food- and packaging machinery
and much more

With over 150 active alloys we offer you a great range of materials - find the right solutions for your application.

With Wieland HPC and Wieland AFC, we are setting new industry standards: both systems have been specially developed to meet the highest requirements for wear and friction protection while maximising the service life and efficiency of machine elements.

Thanks to their PFAS-free formulations, they already meet future EU requirements, thus contributing to sustainable production. Both technologies reduce friction and wear, enable energy savings and impress with high pressure and temperature resistance as well as easy application without the need for design adjustments.

Materials

Wieland HPC - High Performance Coating for demanding applications

Wieland HPC is a highly abrasion resistant polymer coating specially developed for use under extreme conditions. With outstanding wear and friction properties, this innovative coating system offers particularly good performance at high temperatures.

The polymer layer of Wieland HPC plays a decisive role in the running-in phase by ensuring stable and long-lasting operation. By separating the metallic mating surfaces, friction in the tribological system is significantly reduced. This results in a smoother running-in process, which improves both the life and the wear pattern of the bearing. In addition, this technology enables energy and CO₂ savings from the first second of operation.

Thanks to its high-energy surface, Wieland HPC enables excellent lubricant wetting, which extends the service life of the entire system even under demanding tribological conditions. At the same time, the thin-film coating allows for easy application without the need for vacuum or component redesign. In addition, the coating is PFAS-free and already meets future EU requirements, making it a sustainable solution for industry.

Technical Highlights:

Coating thickness: 1-5 µm
High surface pressure: up to 400 MPa
Low water absorption: only 0.32% after 24 hours
Half the wear of bronze
High vacuum capability without outgassing losses

Comparison with conventional coatings:

Unlike high-strength wear-resistant coatings, the high ductility of Wieland HPC effectively prevents the formation of micro-cracks under bending loads. This property significantly extends service life and increases system reliability, even under the most demanding operating conditions.
Experience the future of coating technology with Wieland HPC - for outstanding performance and a long service life for your systems.

For more information, please see our factsheet.

Wieland AFC – Anti-friction coating for reliable lubrication

Wieland AFC is an innovative solid-containing bonded coating that has been specially developed to reliably lubricate highly stressed machine elements and to minimise maintenance. Due to its excellent emergency running properties and optimised coefficient of friction under conditions of insufficient lubrication, it is an ideal solution for demanding applications where grease lubrication and initial greasing are required.

AFC is based on a robust polyamide-imide matrix enriched with the solid lubricants MoS₂ and graphite. This special combination not only promotes the running-in process, but also ensures, in conjunction with initial lubrication, a low-maintenance or even maintenance-free operation of the bearing system. Due to its excellent adhesion to metallic surfaces, the coating also provides effective corrosion protection and is highly resistant to oils, greases and solvents.

Wieland AFC is characterised by outstanding pressure and temperature resistance. The coating remains permanently stable over a wide temperature range from -40 °C to +250 °C and can even withstand temperatures of up to +400 °C for short periods. With a layer thickness of just 5–20 µm, it offers excellent performance without the need to modify the original design. This ensures reliable performance even under extreme conditions.

Technical highlights:

Permanent temperature resistance:
-40 °C to +250 °C (up to +400 °C for short periods)
High surface pressure: up to 400 MPa
Excellent wear protection due to permanent metallic separation of the sliding partners
PFAS-free and therefore future-proof for use in the EU

Comparison with conventional wear layers:

Compared to conventional coatings, Wieland AFC offers significantly lower friction coefficients, more even lubricant distribution and exceptional resistance to mechanical loads. The metallic separation of the sliding partners also helps to further minimise wear and system friction. Depending on the application, this can lead to significant energy savings.

With Wieland AFC, you are choosing a future-oriented coating technology that reduces maintenance costs, extends the service life of your systems and, at the same time, meets the requirements of modern industrial applications.

For more information, please see our factsheet.