2017 has seen the growth of an exciting new partnership for Exalto UK. We were approached earlier this year by new Marine customer, Tees White Gill, who were interested in our bearing manufacture services for the bespoke creation of large flanged brass bearings for use in their marine thrusters.

Although used to supplying cutlass bearings for stern gear the world over, it is usually the Pump side of our business, and not the Marine, which calls for us to manufacture large bespoke flanged bearings. So it was with great interest we produced our first bearing for their marine thrusters.

White Gill have been designing and manufacturing marine thrusters since 1922 following the production of the very first thruster for inland waterway use. Their first ‘deep sea’ marine thruster came in 1966 and have since been used across a variety of ship board installations, demonstrating many unique advantages over tunnel type and retractable thrusters.

Sharon comments “Exalto bearings are used as a steady bearing on the rotor shaft in our TS3 and HJP models – they are a new supplier and we have been very happy with both the quality of the bearings they provide as well as the service we’ve received from Mark and his team. The work we do for Exalto is a real bonus too! When their own machine shop is at capacity we can support with applications such as pre-machining, drilling and finish turning which can take the pressure off during busy times”

“Our success so far this year is unprecedented with the order book the highest it’s ever been” Mark adds, “so having another quality and reliable subcontractor who can turn things around quickly for us has proved very advantageous and we’ve forged a close working relationship.