Factory Strength Revealed: Behind 30 Years of Linear Bearing Manufacturing Experience

In the niche segment of linear bearings, a factory that has stood firm for three decades never relies on luck. Since the establishment of the Hengli brand in 1997, we have been deeply engaged in linear motion products for nearly 30 years. Counting from our predecessor, Ningbo Automobile Oil Pump Factory founded in 1985, this manufacturing legacy stretches back even further.

For three decades, we have focused on one thing: making linear bearings well and precisely.

From Domestic Gap to Industry Pioneer

In the 1990s, linear bearings in China were almost entirely imported, with high prices and long lead times. In 1997, Hengli became one of the earliest domestic enterprises to mass-produce linear ball bearings. Our products entered the Korean market right after launch, breaking the monopoly of imported brands. Since then, "building high-quality linear bearings made in China" has been the goal etched into the factory's DNA.

Two years later, in 1999, Hengli obtained ISO9001 quality management system certification, making us one of the earlier manufacturers in the industry to receive this credential.

Solid Quality Backed by Capable Equipment

Walking into Hengli's production workshops, what strikes you immediately is the complete set of processes and well-equipped facilities.

Five production workshops — metalworking, grinding, stamping, assembly, and optical shaft — handle all key processes in-house, from raw material blanking to finished product packaging. The metalworking workshop operates self-modified semi-automatic CNC lathes, while the grinding workshop is equipped with multiple CNC internal grinding machines. Each step, from rough grinding to finish grinding, delivers micron-level precision control.

Assembly follows an automated approach: automatic feeding, demagnetization and cleaning integrated machines, grating bearing bore grading machines, and automatic bearing assembly machines… Wherever human error could occur, equipment steps in as the safety net.

Quality inspection is equally rigorous. Wear resistance and life testing machines, roundness measuring instruments, roughness measuring instruments, universal tensile testing machines, salt spray testing machines… Every stage from incoming raw materials to finished product shipment is guarded by testing equipment. Every set of linear bearings leaving the factory undergoes multiple quality checks including bore grading, noise testing, and feel testing.

In-House R&D, Not Just Contract Manufacturing

Thirty years of accumulation is not just about equipment and buildings — more importantly, it is about technical expertise.

Hengli holds 8 invention patents and 37 utility model patents, with proprietary technical accumulation ranging from key linear bearing structures to material processes. Our R&D team produces 2D engineering drawings in AutoCAD and 3D product designs in Pro/E and UG. Twenty-five engineering technicians are dedicated to product development and process optimization.

What matters more: balls, retainers, seals, outer rings, end caps, ball pads… all these key components are manufactured in-house. No dependence on external suppliers means quality is controllable, lead times are predictable, and customer customization requests can be responded to quickly.

Customer Recognition Is Strong Validation

Product quality is proven by customer choices.

Approved by Panasonic, audited by Westinghouse, rated "Excellent Supplier" and "Grade A Supplier" for consecutive years by Schaeffler Group… Endorsements from these international brands speak louder than any marketing claim. Currently, over 80% of Hengli's products are exported to Asia, Europe, and the Americas, with a large base of long-term cooperative customers at home and abroad.

From a pioneer of domestic linear bearings to an industry mainstay with an annual capacity of 3.6 million sets, after three decades, what Hengli has come to understand deeply is this: making bearings is just like being a person — do every detail earnestly and thoroughly, and time will naturally give you the answer.