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PERMAGLIDE®

PERMAGLIDE® plain bearings are engineered sliding bearings designed to provide reliable, low-friction operation in applications requiring high wear resistance, long service life, and reduced maintenance. Manufactured by KS Gleitlager, the PERMAGLIDE® range is widely recognized by leading OEMs, particularly in the automotive industry, and represents one of the benchmark solutions for maintenance-free and low-maintenance plain bearing technology.

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Distinctive feature

PERMAGLIDE® plain bearings combine advanced composite materials with engineered sliding surfaces to deliver consistently low friction and excellent wear resistance under a wide variety of operating conditions.

The product range includes both maintenance-free and low-maintenance material systems, allowing designers to select the most suitable bearing solution according to load, speed, lubrication and environmental requirements.

Applications

PERMAGLIDE® plain bearings are widely used in automotive, industrial, and mechanical engineering applications where compact dimensions, long service life and reliable sliding performance are required.

Typical applications include:

  • automotive systems
  • hydraulic and pneumatic equipment
  • pumps and compressors
  • construction and agricultural machinery
  • electric motors
  • industrial automation
  • packaging machinery
  • general mechanical engineering

The wide range of available geometries—including cylindrical bushes, flanged bushes, thrust washers, strips, and custom components—allows integration into virtually any sliding bearing application.

Advantages

PERMAGLIDE® bearings offer an optimized combination of performance, durability, and maintenance reduction.

Key advantages include:

  • low-friction operation
  • excellent wear resistance
  • maintenance-free or low-maintenance material options
  • compact design with high load capacity
  • reduced operating noise
  • long service life under demanding conditions
  • broad range of standard geometries and material grades

These characteristics make PERMAGLIDE® an ideal solution for applications requiring reliable sliding performance throughout the entire operating life of the machine.

Definition

PERMAGLIDE® plain bearings are composite sliding bearings specifically developed to reduce friction and wear in oscillating, rotating, and linear motion applications.

Unlike rolling bearings, plain bearings operate through controlled sliding contact between the shaft and the bearing surface. Their performance depends largely on the characteristics of the bearing material and the anti-friction layer, which are engineered to ensure stable operation under varying loads and speeds.

The PERMAGLIDE® product family includes two main material groups:

  • P1 materials, designed for maintenance-free operation through the use of solid lubricants embedded within the sliding layer;
  • P2 materials, intended for applications where periodic lubrication is acceptable or where operating conditions require enhanced load capacity or thermal performance.

This broad material portfolio enables engineers to select the optimum bearing solution for each specific application.

Technical description

PERMAGLIDE® plain bearings are manufactured using multilayer composite technology, combining a metallic backing with a sintered intermediate layer and a specially engineered anti-friction sliding surface.

Maintenance-free materials (P1) incorporate solid lubricants dispersed within a polymer matrix, creating a permanent low-friction interface that eliminates the need for external lubrication under normal operating conditions.

Where application requirements involve higher loads, elevated temperatures, or specific lubrication strategies, low-maintenance P2 materials provide an effective alternative while maintaining excellent wear resistance and operational reliability.

The product range is available in numerous standard configurations, including:

  • cylindrical bushes
  • flanged bushes
  • thrust washers
  • strips
  • special customer-specific geometries

Manufactured by KS Gleitlager GmbH, part of the Rheinmetall Group, PERMAGLIDE® bearings are produced using advanced manufacturing processes and strict quality controls, ensuring consistent dimensional accuracy and reliable performance for both automotive and industrial applications.

Download the catalogue to have more information about PERMAGLIDE®