High Temperature Bearings

High temperature bearings are deep groove ball bearings and insert bearings built to keep running where a standard bearing's grease and seals give out — kilns, ovens, furnaces and other sustained-heat plant. AIMS Industrial stocks the BECO and ENC high temperature ranges, covering everything from an 80°C to 150°C entry-level sealed bearing through to a 350°C grease-free graphite-cage bearing, in deep groove, insert (Y-type) and miniature transmission sizes, ready to ship Australia-wide. Our Deep Groove Ball Bearing Guide: 6200/6300, Seals & Brands walks through the key differences if you're comparing options.

Quick Reference

Temperature bands — what we stock

Not every high-heat job needs the same bearing, and running hotter than you need to just costs more for no benefit. Our range splits roughly into three bands.

Entry level — 80°C to 150°C

The BECO sealed 150°C deep groove ball bearing is the entry point: rubber-sealed both sides, greased for life, and built on standard boundary dimensions so it's a direct swap into an existing housing. It's the right call for a process that runs consistently warm rather than genuinely hot — where a standard bearing is losing its grease early, but the environment doesn't call for the extreme-range gear.

Mid range — 200°C to 270°C

This band covers most kiln, oven and furnace duty. BECO's 200°C bearing comes in both Viton-sealed (2RS) and ZZ shielded versions on identical AISI 52100 steel with C4 clearance — the sealed version for dust, splash or wash-down, the shielded version as the cheaper option for clean, dry heat. The BECO 608 transmission bearing extends Viton-sealed protection to 250°C in a compact 8 x 22 x 7mm envelope for small drives. ENC's range covers the same band with its 250°C rubber-sealed (C4 clearance) and 270°C metal-shielded ball bearings, plus a 270°C insert (Y-type) bearing on UC200 boundary dimensions for housed applications.

Extreme range — 270°C to 350°C

At the top of the range, BECO's 4xC5-clearance extreme temperature bearings use a manganese phosphate ("kiln black") finish, stabilised AISI 52100 rings, and a PTFE-based, silicone-free grease with a dropping point above 400°C — available Viton-sealed to 270°C or ZZ shielded to 280°C (320°C in a ventilated housing). Sizes rated 270°C to 350°C are also available shielded, with the exact band varying by size. For sustained running above the sealed and shielded options, there are two specialist choices: an open bearing rated to 330°C that runs on a continuous automatic oil-drip system, and a grease-free bearing rated to 350°C with a one-piece graphite cage that self-lubricates the raceways for the life of the bearing.

Sealing, shielding and open options

• Rubber sealed (2RS) — standard rubber or Viton rubber seals on sheet steel carriers, holding grease in and keeping dust, splash or wash-down out. Viton extends the useful temperature range beyond standard nitrile rubber and resists many acids, though it isn't suited to every acid environment — ask us if that applies to your plant.
• Shielded (ZZ) — steel shields with no rubber component, a lower-cost option for clean, dry heat where dust and splash aren't a factor. Because there's no seal compound, there's nothing to degrade over time.
• Open — no seals or shields at all. Our 330°C open bearing is built specifically for automatic oil-drip lubrication systems on kiln trolleys and furnace running gear; it needs a continuing oil supply in service, and will oxidise and seize without one. It isn't a fit for grease-only or unattended applications.
• Graphite cage (grease-free) — a one-piece graphite coronet cage replaces the steel cage and the grease charge, releasing graphite onto the raceways as the bearing turns. With nothing to burn off or contaminate, this is the option for paint lines, food processing or ceramic work where cleanliness matters as much as heat resistance.

Internal clearance and thermal expansion

As a bearing heats up, the inner ring, outer ring and rolling elements all expand — and if they expand into a standard clearance, the bearing tightens up and can seize. High temperature bearings compensate with a larger-than-standard internal clearance: C4 on the 150–200°C range, opened further to 4xC5 on the 250–350°C extreme range. That extra clearance is what keeps the bearing turning freely once the assembly is fully up to temperature, rather than binding as it expands.

Lubrication

Grease is usually the first thing to fail in a hot-running standard bearing, so the lubrication charge matters as much as the steel. Our mid-range bearings are greased for life with no re-lubrication schedule to manage. The extreme-temperature range steps up to a PTFE-based, silicone-free grease with a dropping point above 400°C — chosen specifically because it won't contaminate paint lines or coated product the way some greases can. Where sustained running above the sealed and shielded limits is required, the 330°C open bearing runs on molybdenum disulphide grease topped up by a continuous automatic oil-drip system, and the 350°C graphite-cage bearing dispenses with grease entirely, lubricating itself from the cage material as it runs. Talk to our team about re-lubrication intervals for your specific duty cycle — they should generally be shortened as operating temperature climbs.

Choosing the right bearing for your application

High temperature bearings from our range are specified into industrial ovens, ceramic and brick kilns, furnaces, powder coating and paint curing lines, and food or ceramic processing equipment, along with compact hot-running drives and transmission assemblies. A few pointers from the range itself:

• Running consistently warm (80–150°C) rather than genuinely hot — the entry-level sealed bearing is usually enough, and it costs less than stepping up to the extreme range.
• Kiln or furnace duty with dust, ash or wash-down present — go sealed (Viton 2RS), not shielded.
• Clean, dry heat with no contamination risk — the shielded (ZZ) option is a genuine cost saving over sealed.
• Paint lines, food or ceramic processing — the grease-free graphite cage bearing avoids any risk of grease contaminating the product.
• Fitted with an automatic oil-drip system already — the 330°C open bearing is built for exactly that; without a drip system, look at the shielded 280°C or graphite cage 350°C options instead.
• Housed mounting rather than a bearing that fits directly into a machined bore — the insert (Y-type) bearing on UC200 boundary dimensions is the one to specify.

Not sure which band or sealing type fits your equipment? Get in touch and our team will help you match the bearing to your duty cycle.

Companion Collections

• Bearings — the full standard bearing range for ambient-temperature applications
• Ball Bearings — general-purpose ball bearings across all types
• Deep Groove Bearings — the broader deep groove range beyond high temperature duty
• Greases — lubricants for bearings and other high-load, high-heat applications

Order from AIMS

Need help matching a high temperature bearing to your operating temperature, sealing requirement or housing? Our team knows the BECO and ENC ranges inside out and can help you specify the right series, clearance and lubrication for the job.

• Call us on (02) 9773 0122
• Contact our team
• Request a quote for bulk or trade pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

What temperature range do AIMS's high temperature bearings cover?

Our range spans 80°C to 350°C depending on model, from BECO's entry-level sealed bearing (80–150°C) through mid-range sealed and shielded bearings to 270–280°C, up to the extreme-range and grease-free options rated 330°C to 350°C.

What's the difference between a sealed, shielded and open high temperature bearing?

A sealed bearing (2RS, standard or Viton rubber) keeps grease in and dust, splash or wash-down out, and suits contaminated environments. A shielded (ZZ) bearing uses steel shields with no rubber, a cheaper option for clean, dry heat. An open bearing has no seals or shields at all and, in our range, is built for a continuous automatic oil-drip lubrication system rather than grease-only running.

Can I use a standard rubber-sealed bearing in a hot environment?

Not for sustained heat. Standard nitrile rubber seals are only rated for moderate temperatures and degrade quickly once a process runs consistently hot, contaminating the grease and accelerating wear. High temperature bearings use heat-stable seal materials such as Viton, or shielded and open designs that remove rubber from the equation altogether.

What internal clearance do high temperature bearings use, and why?

Our 150–200°C range uses C4 clearance, and the 250–350°C extreme range uses 4xC5 — both larger than standard clearance. The extra internal clearance allows for the thermal expansion of the rings and rolling elements as the bearing heats up, so it keeps turning freely instead of tightening up and seizing.

Do high temperature bearings need re-greasing?

Our sealed and shielded bearings, including the extreme-temperature range, are greased for life and don't need a re-lubrication schedule. The exception is the 330°C open bearing, which is designed for a continuous automatic oil-drip system and needs an ongoing oil supply in service — without it, the bearing will oxidise and seize.

What's a high temperature insert (Y-type) bearing used for?

An insert bearing locates on the shaft with grub screws and fits into a standard housing (UC200 boundary dimensions in our range), rather than mounting directly in a machined bore. It's the right choice for housed high-heat applications such as kiln and oven mountings, and our ENC insert bearing is rated for continuous operation from -35°C to 270°C.

Which brands does AIMS stock for high temperature bearings?

We stock the BECO high temperature and extreme temperature ranges, built in Italy, and the ENC high temperature range — between them covering deep groove, insert and miniature transmission bearings from 80°C to 350°C.

What industries use high temperature bearings?

Common applications include industrial ovens, ceramic and brick kilns, furnaces, powder coating and paint curing lines, food and ceramic processing equipment, and compact hot-running drives or transmission assemblies. If your equipment runs sustained heat and a standard bearing keeps failing early, it's worth having it assessed for high temperature bearing specification.

I have an automatic oil-drip lubrication system — which bearing should I use?

Our 330°C open bearing is built specifically for that setup — it has no seals or shields, and the open design lets the drip system feed lubricant straight into the raceways. It needs a continuing oil supply to run safely; if you don't have a drip system fitted, the shielded 280°C or grease-free graphite cage 350°C bearings are better options.