Pacific Bearing® Linear Motion Products
Headquartered in Roscoe, Illinois, Pacific Bearing Company (now PBC Linear) specializes in manufacturing high-quality linear bearings, linear actuators, linear guides, linear rails, and linear shafting products. These innovative solutions power and maintain automated machinery in motion, earning us a strong reputation in the robotics and military sectors. We engineer and integrate cutting-edge technologies into factories throughout North America and globally, all while striving to earn and maintain your trust through reliable performance and exceptional service.
Background
1960s: Pacific Bearing® began as a company called Prodo Mach Corporation, Inc. in 1962. That same year, Prodo Mach purchased the assets of the Precision Machine Shop, which was also located in Rockford, Illinois. The following year, Prodo Mach Corporation merged with Premac, Inc., which became its new name.
1980s: Pacific Bearing Company was founded by CEO Robert Schroeder in 1983, created primarily as the sales company for Premac, Inc. That same year, Pacific Bearing was officially incorporated and later merged with Premac, Inc., becoming one company under the Pacific Bearing name. During the 1980s, Pacific Bearing transitioned from a metalworking shop to a bearing manufacturer. This focus led to the invention of the first self-lubricating plain bearing (Simplicity®).
2000s: Pacific Bearing continued to increase its linear bearing product line, and in 2008, launched a new company name, PBC Linear, to better reflect their business model. Today, Pacific Bearing remains the parent company behind PBC Linear and LEE Linear, as well as its subsidiary in Germany, PBC Linear Europe GmbH
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Company Brands
About PBC Linear®
PBC Linear has been a trusted source for the engineering, manufacturing, and assembly of a wide range of linear motion products, along with custom engineering services. Their product line is comprised of a core group of high-performance linear components that includes bearings, shafting, rail assemblies, and cam roller sliders.
They have built upon this strong foundation with sophisticated products that include lead screws and motor lead screw assemblies, actuators, Cartesian robotics, and mechatronics assemblies. The full line of products can be found in a variety of industries including printing and scanning, automated retail, medical equipment, lab automation, packaging, and military applications.
About LEE Linear®
LEE Linear is a leader in the production of linear motion shafting and components. They provide speed-to-market custom shafting that includes threading, diameter reduction, keyways, flats, plating, and more.
In 2013, Pacific Bearing Company acquired LEE Linear with the goal of bringing their shafting expertise and regional distribution under the umbrella of PBC Linear. Their facilities remained separate until 2018, when a decision was made to combine the functions of both companies at the PBC Linear headquarters in Roscoe, IL. After completion of the new factory addition, production equipment and personnel were migrated to the new consolidated manufacturing hub.
About PBC Linear® Europe GmbH
PBC Linear Europe GmbH, located in Düsseldorf Germany, was founded in 2008 as PBC Lineartechnik GmbH, and is a subsidiary of Pacific Bearing Company / PBC linear. In 2019, they changed their name to PBC Linear Europe GmbH, and continue to expand their distribution of PBC Linear products into a majority of European countries.
They offer many of the same core products manufactured at the North American headquarters including our signature Simplicity plain bearings, gliding surface technology, roller bearings and guideways, and actuator technology. European customers can expect the same attention to quality and service.
About Applied Cobotics
Applied Cobotics is a partnership platform that is designed to help small and medium-sized businesses automate their manufacturing floor. The brand is born out of the research and development wing of PBC Linear, also known internally as the Factory of the Future program.
Applied Cobotics offers products and services related to collaborative automation. Products include several cobot options, unique Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) technology, two and three finger grippers, and customized handling tools. Together with custom 3D printing options, Applied Cobotics can provide clients with a complete automation system that easily integrates into a wide range of manufacturing applications.
