The introduction of Aluglide™ bearings is another example of ACL’s commitment to understanding and adapting to customer requirements. ACL’s new Aluglide™ engine bearings combine the proven advantages of aluminium tin metals with silicon to make this the very latest generation high performance alloy and have met with global response which proves these Australian developed and made components are at the leading edge of a competitive international industry.

Made by ACL Bearing Company in Tasmania, Aluglide™ aluminium tin silicon bearings are sold to both local and overseas markets. They are fitted as OE in Australia and have been sold through the aftermarket in the USA for the past 18 months. In the short time since being released, Aluglide™ has met with great success from both OE built engines and those rebuilt in the aftermarket. Aluglide™ bearings are ideally suited to general purpose applications (passenger cars and light commercial vehicles) and selected applications are now available in the Australian aftermarket. They are easily identified by the slick silver packaging featuring the Aluglide™ logo which will become more widespread as changeovers from Duraglide® to Aluglide™ occur progressively. For engines that require higher load applications and are subject to more demanding operating conditions (e.g. performance/race engines), ACL will continue to range the Copper Lead Trimetal Bearings through the Duraglide® and Race Series ranges.

One of the reasons why Aluglide™ has been such a positive achievement is due to ACL Bearing Company’s in-house research & development, further refining the alloy for a winning advantage over the competition. It features a strip cast microstructure which is the result of the inclusion of alloying elements and careful heat treatment. This gives superior bonding surfaces, particularly between the aluminium bond layer and the steel which are then optimised and remain that way to handle long term maximum loads. Put simply, the new bearings can take a higher load in the way the stress is transmitted to the steel. Additionally, the harder surface of the tough alloy gives substantially reduced wear and minimises any possible shaft abrasion, resulting in an extended service life.