Leading polymer component manufacturer Icon Polymer is winning new business for its water-lubricated bearings from across Europe and beyond, with orders up 80 per cent in the last two years.
Silverline Bearings, manufactured at Icon’s Retford headquarters, were originally developed for use as marine propeller bearings but have found an expanding market for use in pumps for a range of power generation and process industries.
Icon Polymer has seen an 80 per cent growth in business for pumps used in the oil, water and gas industries over the last two years and is now supplying three major pump manufacturers which work across the world.
A number of the new orders for the Silverline water-lubricated shaft bearings have come from non-English speaking European countries. Icon’s European Business Development Manager Arie Verlaat said: “This is a major growth area for us and, as we continuing to build on our understanding of our customers’ needs and market focus, we are beginning to see orders from Europe and the Middle East as well as from more established markets.”
Icon Polymer produces a range of Silverline bearings designed to withstand hostile environments, for example on dredger cutter heads which is another growth area. Bearing performance is key, as is a short lead time for both new and refurbished bearings.
The company is also set to make new inroads into the American market with the appointment of a new distributor for the north-eastern USA. Chas G Allen Inc of Massachusetts has an extensive track record in the power generation industry.
Silverline bearings are just one of a wide range of high performance, safety-critical polymer-based components designed and manufactured by the Icon Polymer Group for the aerospace, defence, transportation, power, energy and various industrial markets. Other products range from aerodynamic seals and air-to-air refuelling hoses to customised vibration control components in rail and construction vehicles which are supplied worldwide.
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Caption: Icon Polymer Group’s rubber-lined, water-lubricated bearing are used in a variety of applications, including power station pumps and sea and river dredgers.
For further information, please contact John Greaves, Director of Sales, Icon Polymer Group, on 01777 714300 or Sara Lamper at Sara Lamper PR on 01423 701147.