SantEnt: Leading independent distributor of Kaydon
Introduction
Kaydon Bearings is a globally recognised leader in the design and manufacture of high-precision, custom-engineered bearings. Specialising in thin section and slewing ring bearings, Kaydon delivers innovative solutions for the world’s most demanding applications across the aerospace, medical, robotics, and heavy industrial sectors. Their products are renowned for solving unique challenges related to space, weight, and load capacity. With a heritage dating back to 1977, SantEnt possesses the deep expertise and robust global network required to reliably source and supply the complete range of Kaydon's specialised bearing solutions to our customers worldwide.
and leave the rest to your partner in Bearings & Power Transmission
Table of content
Kaydon at a glance
| Founded | 1941 |
| Headquarters | Muskegon, Michigan, USA |
| Leadership | Part of SKF Group leadership |
| Tentative Revenue | Not publicly disclosed (Integrated into SKF Group reporting) |
| Listed on Stock Market? | No |
| Parent Organisation(s) | SKF Group |
| Subsidiary Organization(s) | IKO Nippon Thompson (UK-Ireland), UBC Precision Bearing Co, Ltd, IKO North America, IKO Thompson Bearings Canada, Inc., and IKO Nippon Thompson Europe |
| Ownership | SKF Group leadership |
| Other Group Entities or Stakeholders | Cooper Bearings, PEER Bearing Company (as part of SKF Group) |
History of Kaydon
| Year | Milestone |
| 1941 | The Kaydon Engineering Corporation was founded in Muskegon, Michigan, by A. Harold Frauenthal. |
| 1943 | Designed and produced the first four-point contact ball bearing for US Navy radar mounts. |
| 1950 | Revolutionised bearing design with the introduction of the Reali-Slim® thin section bearing line. |
| 1994 | Launched the Reali-Slim TT® turntable bearings, designed specifically for compact applications. |
| 2013 | Kaydon Corporation was acquired by SKF Group, strengthening SKF's North American presence and portfolio. |
Kaydon Product Portfolio
Thin Section Bearings
Kaydon Thin Section Bearings
| Sub-categories | Products & Features | Applications | Industries |
| Reali-Slim® open bearings | Available in Type A (angular contact), Type C (radial), and Type X (four-point contact) configurations; highly versatile. | Robotic arms, machine tools, satellite antennas, security camera gimbals. | Robotics, Industrial Automation, Aerospace & Defense, Surveillance. |
| Reali-Slim® sealed bearings | Integrated seals (nitrile rubber) to retain lubricant and exclude contaminants; extended service life. | Medical imaging equipment, food processing machinery, textile machines. | Medical, Food & Beverage, Industrial Machinery. |
| Endurakote®-plated bearings | Thin, dense chrome plating for superior corrosion resistance in harsh environments. | Marine equipment, outdoor robotics, chemical processing equipment. | Marine, Oil & Gas, Chemical. |
| Endura-Slim® bearings | Combination of stainless steel rings and balls with specialized sealing for maximum corrosion resistance. | Semiconductor wafer handling robots, saltwater ROV arms. | Semiconductor, Marine, Aerospace. |
| Reali-Slim® stainless steel bearings | Constructed from 440C stainless steel for inherent corrosion resistance and durability. | Medical devices, scientific instruments, food-grade applications. | Medical, Scientific, Food & Beverage. |
| Reali-Slim MM® metric bearings | Metric-dimensioned thin section bearings, designed as drop-in replacements for standard ISO series. | European machinery, precision robotics, optical equipment. | Industrial Automation, Robotics, Optics. |
| Ultra-Slim® bearings | Features an extremely small cross-section for applications with severe space and weight limitations. | Surgical robots, small gimbals, aerospace instrumentation. | Medical, Aerospace, Defense. |
| Reali-Slim TT® turntable bearings | Compact, pre-engineered turntable bearings with high stiffness and low rotational torque. | Radar pedestals, indexing tables, bottle filling machines. | Defense, Automation, Packaging. |
Slewing Ring Bearings
Kaydon Slewing Ring Bearings
| Sub-categories | Products & Features | Applications | Industries |
| Four-point contacts | Single row of balls in a unique gothic arch raceway; accommodates radial, axial, and moment loads. | Cranes, excavators, wind turbine pitch/yaw systems, aerial lifts. | Construction, Renewable Energy, Material Handling. |
| Eight-point contacts | Two rows of balls providing higher load capacity and moment rigidity than four-point designs. | Heavy-duty cranes, large excavators, stacker-reclaimers. | Mining, Port Machinery, Heavy Construction. |
| Cross rollers | Cylindrical rollers arranged at 90° angles for high stiffness and uniform load distribution. | Machine tool rotary tables, radar antennas, robotic positioners. | Machine Tools, Defense, Robotics. |
| Three-row rollers | Three independent rows of rollers to handle very high axial, radial, and tilting moment loads simultaneously. | Large-diameter tunneling machines, offshore cranes, steel mill ladles. | Heavy Engineering, Offshore, Metals. |
| Glossary of symbols | Provides standardized nomenclature and symbols for specifying bearing features and performance metrics. | Engineering design, technical specification, product selection. | All related industries. |
Custom Bearings
Kaydon Custom Bearings
| Sub-categories | Products & Features | Applications | Industries |
| Standard Spherical Roller Bearings | Robust design to accommodate heavy radial loads and axial loads in both directions; self-aligning capability. | Conveyor systems, crushers, fans, gearboxes. | Mining, Aggregates, Power Generation. |
| Custom Spherical Roller Bearings | Engineered-to-order solutions with special dimensions, materials (e.g., case-carburized steel), and features. | Steel rolling mills, paper machine rolls, continuous casters. | Metals, Pulp & Paper, Heavy Industrial. |
Acquisitions & Group Companies
SKF
In 2013, Kaydon Corporation was acquired by the Sweden-based SKF Group, a global leader in bearings and seals. This strategic acquisition was driven by SKF's goal to strengthen its portfolio in specialised industrial segments and enhance its presence in the key North American market, integrating Kaydon’s market-leading positions in thin section and slewing ring bearings.
Stay updated with Kaydon
Learn more about Kaydon's:
- The latest product innovations.
- Technological advancements.
- Technical Developments.
For the most current information, press releases, and media updates.
Acquisitions & Mergers - Media Coverage And so much more, on the link below!
Why choose SantEnt for your Kaydon requirements?
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Vast Inventory, Global Sourcing & Competitive Pricing
With over 60,000 bearings in stock, SantEnt leverages its strong relationships with manufacturers and global distributors to ensure no Kaydon product is out of reach. Our extensive supply chain collaborations allow us to source genuine parts efficiently and offer highly competitive pricing. We are also Authorised Distributors of Schaeffler, FAG, INA, FYH, Optibelt, and Dodge, reflecting our scale and reliability. -
Genuine Products Guaranteed over Decades of Trust
Established in 1977, SantEnt is a third-generation family business built on a foundation of trust and integrity. Our leadership combines deep industry heritage with modern engineering, technology, and business management expertise. This unique blend enables us to deliver 100% genuine products and professional services to our growing customer base across 60+ countries and 6 continents. -
Robust Technical & After-Sales Support
We understand the critical nature of industrial spares. Our responsibility begins long before a sale, offering expert technical support to help you identify the precise Kaydon bearing for your application, preventing costly failures. After the sale, we remain your dedicated partner, providing comprehensive support for product warranties, installation, storage guidance, and any other queries.
and leave the rest to your partner in Bearings & Power Transmission
