After more than 18 months of development and testing, Danish cycle accessories firm CeramicSpeed has unveiled SLT Bearings. According to the drivetrain efficiency and ceramic bearing specialist, the breakthrough bearing product carries the potential to revolutionise the off-road bearing market.

SLT Bearings are a product developed entirely in-house with combined efforts from the sport and industrial division of CeramicSpeed. The product, described as a ‘solid lubrication bearing that is maintenance free, highly durable and extremely protective against contaminants’, has demonstrated longevity benefits claimed to be three times greater than the market leader for off-road pivot bearings.

As CeramicSpeed ramps up its efforts in the off-road cycling market, the company believes its breakthrough with SLT Bearings will make maintenance-free bearings the go-to bearing for the high-end off-road scene.

“We’re very excited about this product and strongly believe it has the potential to revolutionise the off-road bearing market,” said Martin Banke, Executive Vice President of CeramicSpeed. “For a long time, we have been presented with the longevity challenges that face bicycle and component manufacturers in the off-road scene. SLT Bearings can overcome those challenges with impressive results and a unique maintenance-free characteristic.”

Earlier this year CeramicSpeed emphasised its off-road efforts by adding a proprietary pivot bearing test machine to its extensive list of bespoke testing equipment. The test machine was designed to capture longevity data of pivot bearings while simulating real-world loading/force conditions.

Having concluded the most recent round of longevity testing, CeramicSpeed SLT Bearings have reportedly outperformed the market leader for off-road pivot bearings, by as much as three times. Testing results, performed with 2500Nm of radial force, show the differences in wear between CeramicSpeed SLT Bearings after 1.8 million cycles and a market leader at 600,000.

“Our development of SLT Bearings has received overwhelming interest from our OEM partners,” said Jonathan Small who leads CeramicSpeed’s implementation of SLT Bearings for the off-road market. “The demand for a high performing and more durable bearing for pivots has confirmed and validated our investment in using this technology for this application.”

CeramicSpeed Bearings have made a mark throughout the elite off-road scene for several years with rider performances at multiple UCI MTB World Cup and World Championships, and the Cape Epic among others.

As further testament to the longevity of CeramicSpeed’s new SLT Bearings, CeramicSpeed’s industrial division has been utilising the same technology with impressive results. CeramicSpeed hybrid bearings with SLT have reportedly outperformed standard bearing solutions on service life by eight times or more, in conditions that are normally unsuitable for any bearing… Running partly submerged, running under daily exposure to splash water and detergents, and, in one real life test, in an acetone solution.

Ceramic Speed SLT Bearings contain a polymer matrix saturated with lubrication oil. The matrix retains oil right on the functional surfaces of the bearing under the harshest of conditions while at the same time preventing contaminants from entering the bearing. The manufacturing process of CeramicSpeed SLT Bearings requires the baking the bearings in hot ovens.

Ceramic Speed SLT Bearings are a hybrid bearing made up of CeramicSpeed Balls and Stainless Steel. SLT Bearings will be available as aftermarket and OEM products. Initial focuses for the company are on pursuing OEM opportunities before confirming release dates for aftermarket sales.

Ceramic Speed will display its SLT Bearings at Eurobike starting on July 8th at booth B3-205.