Extreme Bearings material: 316 stainless steel
Why Extreme Bearing manufactures its bearing housings from AISI 316 stainless steel
Every Extreme Bearing mounted bearing unit is built around one simple philosophy: the bearing housing should outlast the machine it supports.
For this reason, Extreme Bearing manufactures its bearing housings from AISI 316 stainless steel (UNS S31600), one of the world’s most corrosion-resistant engineering materials for industrial power transmission equipment.
Unlike standard cast iron housings or stainless steel 304 alternatives, Grade 316 provides exceptional durability in corrosive, wet and chemically aggressive environments where conventional bearing housings rapidly deteriorate.
What is stainless steel 316?
Stainless Steel 316 is an austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steel alloy containing approximately:
- 16–18% Chromium
- 10–14% Nickel
- 2–3% Molybdenum
- Low Carbon content
- Excellent corrosion resistance
The addition of molybdenum is the key difference between Grade 304 and Grade 316.
Molybdenum dramatically improves resistance against:
- Chloride attack
- Pitting corrosion
- Crevice corrosion
- Saltwater exposure
- Industrial chemicals
- Cleaning agents
- Process water
- Marine atmospheres
This makes Stainless Steel 316 the preferred material for heavy-duty industrial bearing housings.
Why not cast iron?
Traditional mounted bearing units are commonly manufactured from cast iron.
While cast iron performs well in dry industrial environments, it becomes vulnerable when exposed to:
- High humidity
- Washdown procedures
- Seawater
- Wastewater
- Chemical cleaning
- Acidic environments
- Fertilizer production
- Offshore installations
Once corrosion starts, housing strength gradually decreases while contamination can enter the bearing assembly.
A corroded bearing housing ultimately shortens bearing life and increases maintenance costs.
Extreme Bearing eliminates this problem by manufacturing its housings entirely from Stainless Steel 316.
Why Extreme Bearing manufactures its bearing housings from AISI 316 stainless steel
Every Extreme Bearing mounted bearing unit is built around one simple philosophy: the bearing housing should outlast the machine it supports.
For this reason, Extreme Bearing manufactures its bearing housings from AISI 316 stainless steel (UNS S31600), one of the world’s most corrosion-resistant engineering materials for industrial power transmission equipment.
Unlike standard cast iron housings or stainless steel 304 alternatives, Grade 316 provides exceptional durability in corrosive, wet and chemically aggressive environments where conventional bearing housings rapidly deteriorate.
What is stainless steel 316?
Stainless Steel 316 is an austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steel alloy containing approximately:
- 16–18% Chromium
- 10–14% Nickel
- 2–3% Molybdenum
- Low Carbon content
- Excellent corrosion resistance
The addition of molybdenum is the key difference between Grade 304 and Grade 316.
Molybdenum dramatically improves resistance against:
- Chloride attack
- Pitting corrosion
- Crevice corrosion
- Saltwater exposure
- Industrial chemicals
- Cleaning agents
- Process water
- Marine atmospheres
This makes Stainless Steel 316 the preferred material for heavy-duty industrial bearing housings.
Why not cast iron?
Traditional mounted bearing units are commonly manufactured from cast iron.
While cast iron performs well in dry industrial environments, it becomes vulnerable when exposed to:
- High humidity
- Washdown procedures
- Seawater
- Wastewater
- Chemical cleaning
- Acidic environments
- Fertilizer production
- Offshore installations
Once corrosion starts, housing strength gradually decreases while contamination can enter the bearing assembly.
A corroded bearing housing ultimately shortens bearing life and increases maintenance costs.
Extreme Bearing eliminates this problem by manufacturing its housings entirely from Stainless Steel 316.
Superior Corrosion Resistance
The outstanding corrosion resistance of Stainless Steel 316 originates from its passive chromium oxide layer.
Whenever minor surface damage occurs, this passive layer naturally reforms in the presence of oxygen, continuously protecting the material against further corrosion.
The addition of molybdenum further improves protection against localized corrosion, particularly in chloride-rich environments where lower-grade stainless steels may suffer pitting.
For this reason, Grade 316 is widely known as Marine Grade Stainless Steel.
Excellent resistance against chlorides
Many industrial environments contain chlorides.
Examples include:
- Seawater
- Coastal installations
- Cooling towers
- Brine solutions
- Cleaning chemicals
- Food processing
- Pharmaceutical production
- Wastewater treatment
Chlorides are among the most aggressive corrosion initiators for metallic equipment.
The molybdenum content in Stainless Steel 316 significantly increases resistance against chloride-induced pitting corrosion, making it the preferred material for long-term industrial reliability.
Ideal for Washdown Applications
Modern production facilities are cleaned more frequently than ever before.
High-pressure cleaning, foam cleaning and chemical sanitation place enormous demands on bearing housings.
Stainless Steel 316 withstands:
- Daily washdown
- Hot water cleaning
- Steam cleaning
- Caustic cleaning agents
- Food-grade detergents
- CIP (Clean-In-Place) systems
- High humidity
Unlike painted cast iron housings, there is no coating that can chip, crack or peel.
Marine and Offshore Performance
Offshore installations present one of the harshest environments for mechanical equipment.
Salt spray, humidity and chloride exposure continuously attack metallic components.
For this reason, Stainless Steel 316 has become the industry standard for:
- Offshore platforms
- Marine conveyors
- Harbour equipment
- Shipbuilding
- Dredging equipment
- Desalination plants
- Coastal infrastructure
Extreme Bearing housings provide long-term protection even under continuous exposure to aggressive marine conditions.
Chemical Resistance
Stainless Steel 316 offers excellent resistance against a wide range of industrial chemicals including:
- Organic acids
- Mild inorganic acids
- Alkaline solutions
- Cleaning chemicals
- Process water
- Alcohols
- Oils
- Fuels
This makes the material suitable for numerous chemical process industries where standard bearing housings rapidly corrode.
Hygienic Design
Because Stainless Steel 316 has a smooth, non-porous surface, contamination adheres less easily than on painted or cast surfaces.
The material is therefore widely used within:
- Food processing
- Beverage production
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Biotechnology
- Cosmetic production
Its clean appearance also makes visual inspection easier during maintenance.
Mechanical Strength
Corrosion resistance alone is not sufficient for demanding industrial applications.
Extreme Bearing housings also require excellent mechanical performance.
Stainless Steel 316 provides:
- High structural strength
- Excellent toughness
- Outstanding fatigue resistance
- Good impact resistance
- Stable performance over a wide temperature range
- Excellent dimensional stability
Combined with our heavy-duty bearing designs, this results in exceptionally reliable mounted bearing units.
Long-Term Cost Savings
Although Stainless Steel 316 represents a higher initial investment than cast iron or Stainless Steel 304, the total cost of ownership is significantly lower.
Customers benefit from:
- Longer service life
- Less corrosion
- Reduced maintenance
- Fewer bearing replacements
- Less downtime
- Lower operating costs
- Improved equipment reliability
For many industrial applications, the housing itself will continue operating long after multiple bearing insert replacements.
Why Extreme Bearing Chooses Stainless Steel 316
At Extreme Bearing, material selection is never a compromise.
Every housing is manufactured from premium Stainless Steel 316 because we believe reliability starts with the foundation of every mounted bearing unit.
Whether your equipment operates in offshore installations, chemical processing plants, wastewater treatment facilities, food production or other corrosive environments, Stainless Steel 316 provides the durability, corrosion resistance and long service life required for reliable operation.
Extreme Bearing combines premium Stainless Steel 316 with precision engineering to deliver mounted bearing units built for the world’s harshest industrial environments.
Ideal for washdown applications
Modern production facilities are cleaned more frequently than ever before.
High-pressure cleaning, foam cleaning and chemical sanitation place enormous demands on bearing housings.
Stainless Steel 316 withstands:
- Daily washdown
- Hot water cleaning
- Steam cleaning
- Caustic cleaning agents
- Food-grade detergents
- CIP (Clean-In-Place) systems
- High humidity
Unlike painted cast iron housings, there is no coating that can chip, crack or peel.
Marine and Offshore Performance
Offshore installations present one of the harshest environments for mechanical equipment.
Salt spray, humidity and chloride exposure continuously attack metallic components.
For this reason, Stainless Steel 316 has become the industry standard for:
- Offshore platforms
- Marine conveyors
- Harbour equipment
- Shipbuilding
- Dredging equipment
- Desalination plants
- Coastal infrastructure
Extreme Bearing housings provide long-term protection even under continuous exposure to aggressive marine conditions.
Chemical Resistance
Stainless Steel 316 offers excellent resistance against a wide range of industrial chemicals including:
- Organic acids
- Mild inorganic acids
- Alkaline solutions
- Cleaning chemicals
- Process water
- Alcohols
- Oils
- Fuels
This makes the material suitable for numerous chemical process industries where standard bearing housings rapidly corrode.
Hygienic Design
Because Stainless Steel 316 has a smooth, non-porous surface, contamination adheres less easily than on painted or cast surfaces.
The material is therefore widely used within:
- Food processing
- Beverage production
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Biotechnology
- Cosmetic production
Its clean appearance also makes visual inspection easier during maintenance.
Mechanical Strength
Corrosion resistance alone is not sufficient for demanding industrial applications.
Extreme Bearing housings also require excellent mechanical performance.
Stainless Steel 316 provides:
- High structural strength
- Excellent toughness
- Outstanding fatigue resistance
- Good impact resistance
- Stable performance over a wide temperature range
- Excellent dimensional stability
Combined with our heavy-duty bearing designs, this results in exceptionally reliable mounted bearing units.
Long-Term Cost Savings
Although Stainless Steel 316 represents a higher initial investment than cast iron or Stainless Steel 304, the total cost of ownership is significantly lower.
Customers benefit from:
- Longer service life
- Less corrosion
- Reduced maintenance
- Fewer bearing replacements
- Less downtime
- Lower operating costs
- Improved equipment reliability
For many industrial applications, the housing itself will continue operating long after multiple bearing insert replacements.
Why Extreme Bearing Chooses Stainless Steel 316
At Extreme Bearing, material selection is never a compromise.
Every housing is manufactured from premium Stainless Steel 316 because we believe reliability starts with the foundation of every mounted bearing unit.
Whether your equipment operates in offshore installations, chemical processing plants, wastewater treatment facilities, food production or other corrosive environments, Stainless Steel 316 provides the durability, corrosion resistance and long service life required for reliable operation.
Extreme Bearing combines premium Stainless Steel 316 with precision engineering to deliver mounted bearing units built for the world’s harshest industrial environments.
Marine and offshore performance
Offshore installations present one of the harshest environments for mechanical equipment.
Salt spray, humidity and chloride exposure continuously attack metallic components.
For this reason, Stainless Steel 316 has become the industry standard for:
- Offshore platforms
- Marine conveyors
- Harbour equipment
- Shipbuilding
- Dredging equipment
- Desalination plants
- Coastal infrastructure
Extreme Bearing housings provide long-term protection even under continuous exposure to aggressive marine conditions.
Chemical resistance
Stainless Steel 316 offers excellent resistance against a wide range of industrial chemicals including:
- Organic acids
- Mild inorganic acids
- Alkaline solutions
- Cleaning chemicals
- Process water
- Alcohols
- Oils
- Fuels
This makes the material suitable for numerous chemical process industries where standard bearing housings rapidly corrode.
Hygienic Design
Because Stainless Steel 316 has a smooth, non-porous surface, contamination adheres less easily than on painted or cast surfaces.
The material is therefore widely used within:
- Food processing
- Beverage production
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Biotechnology
- Cosmetic production
Its clean appearance also makes visual inspection easier during maintenance.
Mechanical Strength
Corrosion resistance alone is not sufficient for demanding industrial applications.
Extreme Bearing housings also require excellent mechanical performance.
Stainless Steel 316 provides:
- High structural strength
- Excellent toughness
- Outstanding fatigue resistance
- Good impact resistance
- Stable performance over a wide temperature range
- Excellent dimensional stability
Combined with our heavy-duty bearing designs, this results in exceptionally reliable mounted bearing units.
Long-Term Cost Savings
Although Stainless Steel 316 represents a higher initial investment than cast iron or Stainless Steel 304, the total cost of ownership is significantly lower.
Customers benefit from:
- Longer service life
- Less corrosion
- Reduced maintenance
- Fewer bearing replacements
- Less downtime
- Lower operating costs
- Improved equipment reliability
For many industrial applications, the housing itself will continue operating long after multiple bearing insert replacements.
Why Extreme Bearing Chooses Stainless Steel 316
At Extreme Bearing, material selection is never a compromise.
Every housing is manufactured from premium Stainless Steel 316 because we believe reliability starts with the foundation of every mounted bearing unit.
Whether your equipment operates in offshore installations, chemical processing plants, wastewater treatment facilities, food production or other corrosive environments, Stainless Steel 316 provides the durability, corrosion resistance and long service life required for reliable operation.
Extreme Bearing combines premium Stainless Steel 316 with precision engineering to deliver mounted bearing units built for the world’s harshest industrial environments.
Hygienic design
Because Stainless Steel 316 has a smooth, non-porous surface, contamination adheres less easily than on painted or cast surfaces.
The material is therefore widely used within:
- Food processing
- Beverage production
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Biotechnology
- Cosmetic production
Its clean appearance also makes visual inspection easier during maintenance.
Mechanical Strength
Corrosion resistance alone is not sufficient for demanding industrial applications.
Extreme Bearing housings also require excellent mechanical performance.
Stainless Steel 316 provides:
- High structural strength
- Excellent toughness
- Outstanding fatigue resistance
- Good impact resistance
- Stable performance over a wide temperature range
- Excellent dimensional stability
Combined with our heavy-duty bearing designs, this results in exceptionally reliable mounted bearing units.
Long-Term Cost Savings
Although Stainless Steel 316 represents a higher initial investment than cast iron or Stainless Steel 304, the total cost of ownership is significantly lower.
Customers benefit from:
- Longer service life
- Less corrosion
- Reduced maintenance
- Fewer bearing replacements
- Less downtime
- Lower operating costs
- Improved equipment reliability
For many industrial applications, the housing itself will continue operating long after multiple bearing insert replacements.
Why Extreme Bearing Chooses Stainless Steel 316
At Extreme Bearing, material selection is never a compromise.
Every housing is manufactured from premium Stainless Steel 316 because we believe reliability starts with the foundation of every mounted bearing unit.
Whether your equipment operates in offshore installations, chemical processing plants, wastewater treatment facilities, food production or other corrosive environments, Stainless Steel 316 provides the durability, corrosion resistance and long service life required for reliable operation.
Extreme Bearing combines premium Stainless Steel 316 with precision engineering to deliver mounted bearing units built for the world’s harshest industrial environments.
Mechanical Strength
Corrosion resistance alone is not sufficient for demanding industrial applications.
Extreme Bearing housings also require excellent mechanical performance.
Stainless Steel 316 provides:
- High structural strength
- Excellent toughness
- Outstanding fatigue resistance
- Good impact resistance
- Stable performance over a wide temperature range
- Excellent dimensional stability
Combined with our heavy-duty bearing designs, this results in exceptionally reliable mounted bearing units.
Long-Term Cost Savings
Although Stainless Steel 316 represents a higher initial investment than cast iron or Stainless Steel 304, the total cost of ownership is significantly lower.
Customers benefit from:
- Longer service life
- Less corrosion
- Reduced maintenance
- Fewer bearing replacements
- Less downtime
- Lower operating costs
- Improved equipment reliability
For many industrial applications, the housing itself will continue operating long after multiple bearing insert replacements.
Why Extreme Bearing Chooses Stainless Steel 316
At Extreme Bearing, material selection is never a compromise.
Every housing is manufactured from premium Stainless Steel 316 because we believe reliability starts with the foundation of every mounted bearing unit.
Whether your equipment operates in offshore installations, chemical processing plants, wastewater treatment facilities, food production or other corrosive environments, Stainless Steel 316 provides the durability, corrosion resistance and long service life required for reliable operation.
Extreme Bearing combines premium Stainless Steel 316 with precision engineering to deliver mounted bearing units built for the world’s harshest industrial environments.
Why Extreme Bearing chooses stainless steel 316
At Extreme Bearing, material selection is never a compromise.
Every housing is manufactured from premium Stainless Steel 316 because we believe reliability starts with the foundation of every mounted bearing unit.
Whether your equipment operates in offshore installations, chemical processing plants, wastewater treatment facilities, food production or other corrosive environments, Stainless Steel 316 provides the durability, corrosion resistance and long service life required for reliable operation.
Extreme Bearing combines premium Stainless Steel 316 with precision engineering to deliver mounted bearing units built for the world’s harshest industrial environments.
