Have you filled your gas tank recently? As gas prices reach their lowest level since 2010, the auto industry in seeing an uptick in new car purchases. Whether spurred on by lower gas prices or end-of-year promotions, consumers are once again investing in new vehicles. We’ve long promoted how plastic bearings are helping automotive manufacturers, but did you also know they have direct benefits for consumers? 

Here are just a few reasons how plastic automotive bearings benefit consumers directly:

You may have read our recent post about the growth of the auto industry and what that means to plastic manufacturers. At TriStar, we’ve worked with auto makers for many years to help them increase the fuel efficiency of their vehicles through lightweight plastic bearings and custom components. 

Given our interest in auto plastics, I thought I’d share an article from our colleagues at Plastics Engineering Magazine, which uncovers new initiatives to build large-scale auto parts from composites. This technology is bringing auto plastics to a whole new level.

I read an interesting article in Forbes about the huge growth of US auto sales for the month of July. It cited a nearly 10% increase in sales over this same period last year. Good news for the US economy, of course, and for the industry as a whole. 

We’ve worked with many auto manufacturers over the years, and are often called on to help them increase the performance and efficiency of their vehicles. Plastic bearings provide a lightweight, yet durable and maintenance-free option over their metal counterparts. Lighter plastic materials deliver better fuel efficiency without any compromise in performance or safety.

Where can plastic bearing make a difference for auto manufacturers? 

Consider these common applications:

Q: We supply gear and strut components to auto manufacturers and need a versatile bearing for high-speed reciprocating and rotary applications. Durability, performance and price are all key factors. Any recommendations? 

A: Your best bet is a material with stainless steel substrates ― and TriStar is the only plastics company to manufacture them. A reinforced bearing material will protect your machinery in the rare instance of a shell breakthrough. You may consider…