Simple yet sophisticated, the humble ball bearing is arguably one of the greatest technological developments of all time. However, the story is far from written, over the last few decades the design of bearings has advanced significantly.

It is estimated that a ten per cent reduction of friction in all large bearings in use would provide an energy saving equal to the output of 18 large power stations.

Semiconductor chips store data on almost every modern digital device that we use. According to ASML, in 2020, more than one trillion chips were produced around the world. Despite their use in many of the products we rely on, the manufacturing process is complex and requires precision.

As the name suggests, corrosion-resistant bearings can be used in applications where corrodible materials wouldn’t suffice — think food processing, chemical manufacturing, pharmaceutical production and bearings for marine applications. But, what materials suffice? Chris Johnson, managing director of miniature bearing supplier SMB Bearings, explains.