New sensor-based ‘smart parts’ launched
01/06/2026
Belfast-based industrial supplies company Rotary Bearings Industrial Ltd has launched a new range of sensor-based parts to assist its manufacturing customers in improving their operational efficiency.
Founded in Northern Ireland in the mid-1980s as a bearings specialist, Rotary Bearings now serves the whole of the UK and Ireland with a wide product range including belts, pulleys, adhesives and personal protective equipment (PPE), partnering with leading international suppliers.
The new solution comprises ‘smart parts’, where components such as bearings, motors, pumps and gearboxes are fitted with sensor technology and a web-based customer-facing dashboard displaying data using custom-built software. Manufacturers can see real-time insights into the performance of their assets, then take preventative action before breakdowns occur, which helps to reduce both downtime and operational risk.
The overarching software solution was developed for Rotary Bearings by cloud engineering company Storm Reply, digitally linking all of the hardware and sensors, allowing customers to view insights in a single, simple dashboard. Rotary Bearings owns the solution built by Storm Reply without any ongoing subscription or licence fees.
Michael Cunningham, General Manager at Rotary Bearings, commented: “We were originally an industrial supplies company; then we discovered sensors and wanted to explore how customers could monitor their assets and get information back in order to take action before they have a breakdown.
“The trouble many manufacturers have is they have to go back to the provider who sold them the equipment, who then charges them again for analysis on their own data. With our new solution, they can see the data themselves for any job role or function.”
Rotary Bearings’ new auto-lubrication offering uses SmartLube, condition-based lubrication that adjusts according to parameters such as equipment speed, load and temperature.
More than 60% of bearing failures are caused by over-lubrication; therefore condition-based systems can significantly extend the service life of bearings.
Its condition monitoring solution uses neuron sensors manufactured by El-Watch to conduct real-time monitoring of key bearing and machine parameters, including temperature, flow rate, pressure, vibration and operating hours. The ‘smart parts’ help prevent faults, minimise downtime and reduce maintenance costs.
Commenting on the new digital offering, Storm Reply partner Rachel Grunwerg explained: “Our small team of engineers built the solution very quickly, in a matter of weeks, working very closely with Rotary Bearings. We did a proof of concept, then a production solution, which they’re now using with their clients.
“It is easy to use and maintain and provides significant benefits. We have built a solution that provides so much more than the physical part itself: you can see a dashboard with insights of that part, how it is working, its usage, the energy consumption and performance.”
