Chat with Us!

We always want to make things convenient and simple for our customers, that's why we've added a live chat feature to our webpage. Visit us at TSBIndustrialSupply.com and activate the live chat in the bottom right corner. One of our sales associates will be more than happy to assist you with an order or with any special requests, questions, or concerns that you may have!

Gotthard Base Tunnel: An Engineering Marvel

On June 1st, the Gotthard Base Tunnel connecting Zurich to Milan, finally opened. It travels through the Swiss Alps for 35.4 miles and creates a travel time in the tunnel of less than 20 minutes by train. The railway tunnel was built to make travel easier, to cut down on air pollution, and to facilitate growth in Europe. This project was not without a hefty price tag though. The total cost was £8.4 billion and took 17 years to complete! Timken supplied 25,000 roller bearings that assisted in drilling through the Swiss Alps. With the end of construction, this tunnel has now become the longest tunnel in the world. 

References:

http://www.bearing-news.com/bearings-drilled-worldis-longest-rail-tunnel-zurich-milan/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3606359/World-s-longest-railway-tunnel-open-17-years-construction-Trains-Switzerland-travel-155mph-35-miles-mountain-thanks-10-6billion-project.html

Back to Basics: How Ball Bearings are Made

This month we are getting back to basics, by sharing an older video from the Discovery Channel demonstrating how ball bearings are made. Click on the link below to get an inside look at what the process is like!

How ball bearings are made

What is a Pillow Block?

TSB Industrial Supply has operated for nearly two decades as a full service industrial products company primarily dealing in bearings. While the most popular type of bearing is the ball bearing, TSB provides a wide range of bearings, including miniature ball bearings, thrust bearings, cylindrical bearings, and pillow blocks.

Pillow blocks, also known as plummer block bearings, provide load support for rotating shafts. They can be easily mounted parallel to the axis of the shaft through mounting holes or slots in their base or feet. The external housing can use a wide range of bearing types, including ball, roller, or plain, depending on the needs of the industrial application for which the pillow block is being used.

Housing and bearing materials can likewise change depending on the needs of the project. Those interested in a low-cost solution can use pressed steel, but this material carries a lower load than many others. Many plastics are also used in pillow blocks for their toughness and resistance, as are traditional industrial metals like stainless steel and aluminum.

Women's History Month

In honor of Women's History Month, we would like to say that we are particularly proud to be a certified Minority/Women owned enterprise in the City of Houston. Kudos to every strong woman out there owning/running/managing a successful company.

March Featured Product: Electric Motors

Just like that, March is here, coming in like a lion. This month, we would like to focus on electric motors. We carry AC and DC motors to fulfill a variety of needs and/or uses. AC motors work by alternating currents, hence the AC title. They take electrical energy and convert it into mechanical energy. DC motors take an electric current from an electric cell and generate a constant voltage. AC motors are typically found in homes or industrial type uses, while DC motors are best utilized with speed and rotation control applications.

For our industry, one would typically find AC motors in high precision drill machines, water pumps, cargo pumps, electrical power plants, etc. DC motors are generally used in cranes, drills, air compressors, and boring mills, to name a few.

We can supply you with any variety of a DC or AC motor. To help serve you better, please call us at (713) 731-7200 or shoot us an email.







Sources:
http://www.sfeg.com/blog/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-ac-motors-and-dc-motors
http://www.ehow.com/about_6139209_uses-ac-motors.html 
https://www.quora.com/What-are-applications-of-DC-motors

Belts: What are they used for?

Mechanical belts not only have a variety of uses, but they also come in a multitude of styles, depending on their function. For starters, what is a belt? A belt is typically made of rubber, or some other flexible but durable material, which is used as an origin of motion to transmit power. The belt is spun by pulleys in either a forwards or backwards direction, depending on the looping of the belt on the pulleys. A popular belt is the v-belt, which is commonly used for power transmissions in automobiles and other moving vehicles. It gets the name "v-belt" due to the trapezoidal shape that is formed in it's cross section.  Depending on how much power is needed, multiple belts may be used at the same time.

V-Belt

Another type of belt that we carry is a cogged belt (also referred to as a timing belt). These belts have tiny teeth on them that lock into the pulley. When these belts are tensioned correctly, they have no slippage. These belts are generally used with miniature timing systems, DC electric "step" motors, and camshafts on automobiles.

Cogged Belt

Although these are the main belts that are purchased, they are not the only ones that we carry. If you are looking for a particular unique belt, please contact us and we would be more than happy to assist you!



Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belt_(mechanical)

February Featured Product: Belts

It hardly seems possible that we are already in our second month of 2016, but here it is, and with that comes a new featured product! February at TSB Industrial Supply is all about belts. Belts come in a variety of sizes and have a differing array of uses. We specialize in premium Carlisle brand belts such as:

Heavy Duty Industrial V- Belts

- These belts are built to withstand sources of high heat in addition to being resistant to chemicals, ozone particles and stretch, to name a few.

Synchronous/Cogged Belts

- Synchronous belts are non-slipping flexible and mechanical belts used mostly in place of chains and sprockets, thereby creating quieter operating environments and not requiring the use of lubrication.

Banded Belts

- Banded belts are built with multiple layers which prevents the belt from sliding or looping off of the drive. They are made to provide the strength of multiple belts in a single belt. 

For more information about which belt would best fit your needs or to place an order, please call us at (713) 731-7200 or email sales@tsbindustrialsupply.com.

Angular Contact Bearings Play Critical Role in Industrial Applications

A leading provider of bearings and other products for industrial applications, TSB Industrial Supply has its headquarters in Houston, Texas. Among other standard bearing types, TSB offers angular contact bearings that are a good option for supporting combined radial and axial loads.

Designed to support high-speed use, angular ball bearings are assets in certain agricultural, manufacturing, and chemical applications that require low friction. Most often used in pairs or multi-unit groups, angular contact ball bearings feature an asymmetrical design that causes them to support axial loads in a single direction.

Many angular contact ball bearings feature materials that resist corrosion while improving performance. Chrome steel is a common choice for balls and raceways, but ceramic balls are a preferred choice for intense operating conditions.

Since a wide selection of angular contact ball bearings are available from manufacturers, companies should seek the expertise of a trusted industrial products specialist who can advise them on the right ball bearings for their specific application. These experts can also provide insight on other standard bearing types or customized bearing designs.

2016 US Trade Show Recommendations

With the start of the new year it's the perfect opportunity to forge new connections and build your business. Trade shows offer the chance to grow your contacts and customers by making face to face connections. Here is a list of the top trade shows in the US to attend during the 2016 year:

ATLANTA

MODEX 2016
BIEC, Atlanta, USA
Date: 4 - 6 April 2016
www.modeshow.com                   

MODEX 2016 is the industry's newest expo for the manufacturing, distribution and supply chain industries.

IWF Atlanta
Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia
Date: 24 - 27 August. 2016
www.iwfatlanta.com/

IWF is an international woodworking machinery and furniture supply fair and the meeting place for woodworking and related industries. It is the resource for industry suppliers and manufacturers to connect, provide solutions, and explore new ideas and new methods in manufacturing. From raw materials, to woodworking and processing machinery to hardware, supplies and finishing accessories, visitors will find it all at IWF.

FLORIDA
BSA 2016 Convention
The Turnberry Isle
Amelia Island
Florida
Date: 6 - 19 April 2016
www.bsaconventions.org

The world's premier bearings industry event for authorized distributors of bearing products and services and the manufacturers of those products.

CHICAGO

IMTS
McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois
Date: 12 - 17 September 2016
www.imts.com/

More than 114,000 industrial decision-makers, including many of your competitors, attend the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) to get ideas and find answers to their manufacturing problems. They will see new technology demonstrated ... and choose the best for their needs.

Resource: http://www.bearingnet.net/resources/events.aspx#2016

Product Feature: Hoses

TSB Industrial Supply is excited to be able to supply more than just bearings to our customers. This month our product feature is on our inventory of hoses.

We carry a multitude of hose assemblies such as:

 - Agriculture Hoses

-Fire Hoses (Industrial & Municipal)

-Food & Beverage Hoses

-Fuel Hose

-Hydraulic Hose & Fittings

-Industrial Hoses

-Multi-Purpose Hose

In addition to: Clamps & Fittings, Quick Connect Couplings & Nipples, and Hose Reels. 

Our premium manufacturers include: NRP Jones, Parker, Kuriyama, etc.

Please contact us at sales@tsbindustrialsupply.com or (713) 731-7200 to request a quote or to place an order. 

Fire Hose:

Hose and Valves:

Stainless Steel Industrial Hose:

Certificate Program Supports Business Growth in Houston

A premier provider of bearings for nearly two decades, TSB Industrial Supply, is a family-operated business with corporate headquarters in Houston, Texas. Certified as a Minority/Woman-Owned Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (MWDBE) by the City of Houston, TSB Industrial Supply, is one of a growing number of such companies in the area. According to Houston's Office of Business Opportunity (OBO), the city has a deep commitment to fostering economic growth by supporting businesses owned by historically underutilized groups.

The OBO hosts regular workshops to provide local business owners with information on the MWDBE certification process. At these workshops, owners can learn about various certification types and gain insight on requirements and procedures. Once granted, an MWDBE certification remains valid for three years. However, business owners must update their certification each year to maintain status in the program.

If a currently certified MWDBE expands into new areas of business, the company may contact OBO to pursue expansion of the certificate capabilities. In addition to these MWDBE opportunities, some companies may be eligible to attain status as a Texas Historically Underutilized Business (HUB).