Techemer - Water-Lubricated Bearings & Shaft Seals Manufacturer Since 2008 — ISO-Certified | Fully Patented
Water Lubricated Bearing
Techemer is a leading manufacturer of advanced composite materials and bearing solutions under the INDRON® brand. With decades of experience in materials science and a strong R&D team, we specialize in water lubricated bearing technologies that meet the highest standards in marine, hydropower, and industrial applications.
Our products are trusted by shipbuilders, waterworks, dredging companies, and energy equipment OEMs for their superior performance, reliability, and environmental compatibility.
What Is a Water Lubricated Bearing?
A water lubricated bearing is a type of sliding bearing that uses water—fresh or seawater—as its primary lubricant. Unlike oil-lubricated systems, it does not require external lubricants, reducing pollution, maintenance needs, and operational costs.
They are particularly suitable for applications like:
- Marine stern tube and rudder bearings
- Vertical and horizontal water pumps
- Water turbines and hydro guide bearings
- Ship propulsion shafts and dredging equipment
By eliminating oil circulation systems, water lubricated bearings deliver cleaner, simpler, and safer solutions for critical rotating machinery.
INDRON® Material Advantages
All of our water lubricated bearings are made with proprietary INDRON® elastoplastic alloys, developed in-house by Techemer’s R&D team. These materials feature high-performance self-lubricating microcrystals and extreme pressure particles that ensure long service life, even in severe conditions like dry starts, abrasive environments, and high load systems.
Key Material Benefits:
- Excellent dry-running capability with minimal wear
- Self-lubricating particles embedded throughout the matrix
- Dynamic surface pressure resistance up to 12 MPa
- Low friction coefficient and high abrasion resistance
- Long-term temperature resistance up to 170°C (HTR17 grade)
- Environmentally friendly: no oil, no risk of marine pollution
Our materials are designed to perform reliably in both dry and water-lubricated conditions, offering a balanced combination of strength, durability, and sustainability.
Our Product Range
Techemer offers a wide selection of water lubricated bearings, tailored to suit the demands of ship propulsion, pump engineering, hydro, and industrial transport systems. All bearing types are available in a variety of designs, sizes, and materials to meet your precise technical specifications.
Our INDRON® have been widely adopted in bulk carriers and working ships, successfully replacing metal stern bearings and rudder bearings in oil-lubricated systems.
Marine Cutlass Bearing Replacing Thordon: Superior Wear Resistance for Dredgers and Marine Energy Solutions.
INDRON® self-lubricating bushing are widely used in bulk carriers and working ships. It has been proved in practice that the product can successfully replace metal stern bearings and rudder bearings in ship oil lubrication systems.
Our Water Lubricated Marine Bearings are engineered to deliver exceptional performance in marine applications, particularly in thrust direction operations.
INDRON® self-lubricating bushing are widely used in bulk carriers and working ships. It has been proved in practice that the product can successfully replace metal stern bearings and rudder bearings in ship oil lubrication systems.
Our INDRON® stern tube bearings are expertly designed to provide robust support for the propeller shaft, transferring radial forces from the propeller to the ship’s structure.
When it comes to replacing traditional oil-lubricated or Thordon SXL water-lubricated stern tube bearings, INDRON® TSTN offers a robust solution with superior performance and longer lifespan, designed for modern shipowners who demand reliability and cost-efficiency.
INDRON® PLYhRBR is a high-performance elastoplastic polymer alloy composite designed to excel in the most challenging environments. Whether you're operating in sediment-laden rivers, abrasive marine conditions, or demanding industrial settings, PLYhRBR delivers unmatched wear resistance, reliability, and longevity.
INDRON® UNIV is used as Guide Vane, connecting-Rod and Regulating Ring Bushings. Compared with regular copper-based mosaic graphite bearings, INDRON® guide-vane, connecting-rod and regulating-ring bearings have larger contact area and no lubricating oil is required.
The "bonding" durable high-efficiency self-lubricating micro-crystals and extreme pressure particles in INDRON® TSTN realized a good balance of low friction and high wear resistance, where dry start is available.
INDRON® TSTN is a high-performance self-lubricating and wear-resistant material, specifically designed for heavy-duty applications such as water pump guide bearings, marine rudder bearings, and stern bearings.
UNIV is an innovative metal-coated bearing material designed as an ideal alternative to oil-lubricated metal bearings. Its unique coating structure excels under various harsh conditions, particularly in applications like guide vanes.
no data
Water Lubricated Bearings vs. Traditional Lubricated Bearings
Why Water Lubricated Bearings Are the Smarter Choice
When comparing water lubricated bearings with traditional lubricated bearings (such as oil-lubricated or grease-lubricated types), it's clear that water-lubricated systems offer significant advantages in terms of sustainability, cost-efficiency, and system simplicity.
Widely used in marine, hydro, pump, and dredging industries, water lubricated bearings are rapidly replacing conventional lubrication systems in both new designs and retrofit upgrades.
| Feature | Water Lubricated Bearings | Traditional Lubricated Bearings |
| Lubrication Medium | Clean water, seawater, or process water (no oil required) | Oil, grease, or synthetic lubricants |
| Environmental Impact | Eco-friendly, no leakage risk, no oil pollution | Potential oil spills, marine and environmental contamination |
| System Complexity | No oil tanks, piping, or filters needed | Requires oil circulation systems, seals, and pumps |
| Dry Start Capability | Supported with self-lubricating materials | Not recommended, may cause early failure |
| Maintenance Requirements | Minimal maintenance, no oil changes | Regular lubrication checks and servicing needed |
| Service Life | Long service life with wear-resistant materials | Dependent on lubrication quality and seal integrity |
| Cooling Performance | Naturally cooled by the water environment | Requires separate oil cooling systems |
| Application Adaptability | Ideal for seawater, sediment-laden, and eco-sensitive environments | Best for clean, sealed, and controlled environments |
INDRON® water lubricated bearings offer a cleaner, more reliable, and more cost-effective solution compared to traditional lubricated bearings, especially in demanding marine and industrial conditions.
Water Lubricated Bearings Applications
Our Bearings Are Used In A Wide Range Of Industries, Including:
Custom Engineering & R&D
Our technical team of 20+ engineers supports full customization from material selection to final product assembly. We offer:
- CAD-based product design and 3D modeling
- OEM/ODM manufacturing services
- Custom groove patterns, slotted structures, and compound profiles
- Multiple patents covering sliding surfaces, damping structures, and friction optimization
Why Choose Techemer?
no data
no data
Please Feel Free To Contact Us At Any Time