The Story behind the BRI-MAC Bearing Housing

It was May of 1985.  Mr Brian McCairn (founder and visionary), returned home from a hard day in the office.  He was the Purchasing Director of a steel processing company.  His day was made particularly more difficult because no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t find a trusting supplier of cast steel bearing housings.  They had to be steel to cope with the tough demands of the steel mills.  Nothing else would do the job.  He would ask all the big bearing companies – but the prices were too high and the delivery was way too long.

That was it!  That was all he needed to realise that there was a demand – a very good demand, for cast steel, solid based bearing housings to meet the excessive loads his steel making machines required.  Later that month, BRI-MAC was created.  Named after him and the journey started.  That’s where I come in.  Soon after graduating, the Father & Son team hit the road!  Together, we worked from home for a few months and then moved to new offices. Bri-Mac converted the UK steel mills to SSNT housings – the complete range of SN housings, but in steel. Then the master stroke…. Bri-Mac developed a split seal design which reduced the maintenance down time at the mills.  We didn’t stop there – we then did the same with the SD range and developed the entire range in cast steel, with the same split seal design.  All with solid bases.

It was getting a little embarrassing. This small Father and Son team started to make bearing housings for the big bearing housing manufacturers, then as word spread, for the Distributor trade.

How could it be that this little business was so successful – and in so much demand?  Easy… not only had Dad filled a niche, but we were fast to adapt, quick to react – and ready to hit the drawing board and solve all the special requests thrown at us.

Next big move – and the best move we ever made – we decided to get our “hands dirty”, and in 1993 purchased the first set of machines to machine and produce in a newly rented factory.  It meant we could be even quicker to react and with total control over our own production, we could touch and feel our own work and ensure we gave our customer “something to see” – looking back, it was impressive.  Then BearingNet arrived – and this small business was able to reach out to overseas markets.  Markets we could never have hit.  Our name spread and our market share grew and we were fast solving problems and supplying bearing housings to meet all applications.

In 2007, we purchased a larger manufacturing facility which today boasts state of the art Machining Centres with big capacity to cope with almost any demand.  We have a drawing office which reacts quickly to customer enquiries.

Sadly, Brian McCairn never lived long enough to see the new facility.  I’m sure he would be very proud to see how his vision has developed and now has a brand & name that reaches across all continents.  It still remains a family business – long standing employees who have a strong connection with the product.  We live and breathe it here.

For us, business is simple.  Of course there has to be need, and luckily for us even after 31 years, the demand is still there.  We recognise this and make sure we can help with anything.  It doesn’t matter how special, what material you have – whatever the quantity, we will always do our best.  Our biggest strength is our flexibility.  We could bang on all day about the housings we have made and can make – thankfully, we have the website and Twitter to show the world this – we at Bri-Mac enjoy what we do.  Every job is different.  It gives us a new challenge.

We are a UK company and yes, sometimes business is tough – and we just cannot compete with the low cost producers – but we don’t want that business.  This is not where we position the business. Where we succeed is providing a quality service from the first panic phone call to the final assembly which gives the customer the perfect solution.

In difficult times, when it is hard to generate new business – to all the “switched on” distributors who use us – thank you & well done !  To those you have not (yet), the process is easy.  Just remember that we can make the bearing housing which surrounds your bearing, and very often it commands more margin.  The Bri-Mac housing can then be an extension of your product range and help you to offer a one stop shop.  We can supply the housings un-branded, or if you are feeling adventurous, we can brand them with your name.

We are lucky to be able to supply all the major bearing boys, the big distributors and when there is enough room, our own OEM customers.  We have recently manufactured bearing housings for Cement Works, Phosphate Mines, Gold Mines, Crushing, Recycling, Wind Power, Screening, Shale Production, Sewage & Wood Mills.

We succeed because we can show customers the manufacturing process.  We will send you videos of your order and provide updates as we progress.  We can supply the material certification and even make the packing case.  Our Shipping department will find the fastest and cheapest way to get product to you.  By sea, by air – whatever is required.

I hope this has given you a little insight into who we are and how we succeed.  I personally owe Dad a great debt for finding the niche.  My mission is to make sure BRI-MAC continues to thrive and satisfy enquiries from all corners of the planet and make the sourcing process is as easy as possible for you.  Start today by saying YES to the next time you are asked for a bearing housing – never say NO.  Just email us and we will have a damn good go at helping you.  We are not saying we can do everything, but honestly, we will do our very best.

Paul McCairn.  Managing Director.