Flange Bearing Units Supplier 

Mount bearings for specialized applications with precision flange units. As a leading flange bearings supplier, our team at Baker Bearing Company can assist you in sourcing flange bearings to repair your equipment or fulfill your manufacturing requirements. Review the specifications, benefits, and industry applications of these flange units today before exploring our extensive catalog of over 6 million parts.

Flange units are manufactured with a flange, or flat mounting lip, around the bearing housing to allow for mounting directly to a machine frame, wall, or vertical surface rather than a horizontal base. This secures the outer bearing ring to ensure proper positioning, particularly in applications where there's no flat surface for a traditional pillow block. Once installed, the bearing can rotate and carry a combined radial and axial load with minimal friction.

Structurally, a flange unit has four main parts: the insert bearing itself (typically a deep groove ball bearing with a spherical outer surface and extended inner ring), the cast housing with its bolt-hole flange, a seal on each side to keep out contamination, and a locking method that secures the inner ring to the shaft.

The difference between a flange unit and a pillow block comes down to mounting orientation, not quality. A flange bearing bolts to a surface that's perpendicular to the shaft (a wall, end plate, or vertical frame), while a pillow block bolts to a base that runs parallel to the shaft. Choose based on which mounting surface your equipment provides:

Looking for horizontal shaft mounting instead? See our pillow block bearings page.

Flange units are classified primarily by the shape of the flange and number of mounting bolts. Each configuration trades footprint against rigidity: 

We also stock diamond-shaped and pillow-style flange housings for space-restricted applications where a standard square or round footprint won't fit.

Size: Between 1/2 inch and 3 inches in diameter, with metric bore equivalents available.

Materials: Typically M50 tool steel, 52100 chrome steel, 440C stainless steel, or cast iron housings. The material used affects the lifetime, heat resistance, weight, cost, and corrosion resistance of the bearing. Cast iron is the standard housing material for most industrial use; stainless steel and composite housings are better suited to washdown, food-grade, or corrosive environments.

Locking Method: Flange units are secured to the shaft using either a set screw or an eccentric locking collar, depending on load direction and vibration levels. 

Sealing: Most flange units include seals on both sides of the housing to keep contaminants out and grease in, with many designs relubricatable through a grease zerk fitting.

If you don't know which configuration best fits your industry application, reach out to our team at Baker Bearing Company to find an exact replacement or for a bulk order to fulfill your manufacturing requirements.

Traditional ball bearings generally rely on close housing tolerances to secure the bearing and prevent axial movements. This requires precision manufacturing, as even small inconsistencies in the housing can negatively affect the bearing operation. Flange units reduce this risk by securing the bearing directly to the equipment to prevent axial movement.

Flange bearing units can also protect against thermal expansion. When housings warp or adjust due to thermal expansion, it can cause excessive wear or failure of other bearing types.

From elevators to packaging systems, there are many applications for flange units across a variety of industries: 

• Industrial bearings: Conveyor systems, material handling equipment
• Automotive bearings: Production line and assembly equipment
• Oilfield bearings: Heavy-duty rotating equipment
• Trucking bearings: Fleet maintenance and replacement parts
• Agriculture bearings: Equipment exposed to variable loads and outdoor conditions
• Food and beverage processing: Stainless and washdown-rated flange units for sanitary environments

Choose a trusted flange bearings supplier to find quality components that meet your manufacturing timeline. Baker Bearing Company stocks flange units from trusted brands including SKF, Timken, FAG, Barden Precision Bearings, Browning, Cooper, Fafnir, IKO, Kaydon, Koyo, Link-Belt, McGill, MRC, NSK, NTN, Rexnord, RNP, Seal Master, Thomson, and IR Torrington, with over 6 million parts in stock ready for same-day shipping. Contact us to learn more about our in-stock offerings or request a quote today.