THOMSON

Thomson Linear Motion is a company named after its founder, John Thomson. Headquartered in Virginia, USA, the company was founded in 1946 by John Thomson Sr., who invented the ball bushing bearing in 1945. This invention utilized ball bearings to eliminate the stick-slip, binding, and chatter of sliding bearings, thus solving the issue of stick-slip in the pitch links of aircraft propeller blades. The invention of the ball bushing bearing not only eliminated wear but also reduced the friction coefficient to 0.001. Building upon this invention, John Thomson Sr. established Thomson Linear Motion and continued to lead the field of linear motion bearings through new product inventions and patents.

In the second year after its establishment, in 1947, Thomson invented the multi-circuit ball screw and made improvements to linear ball bushing bearings, resulting in multiple patents. In 1955, Thomson became the first to apply recirculating ball screws to Chevrolet cars. In 1960, Thomson also utilized ball screws in machine tool equipment. In 1962, the company invented the linear roller bearing, which was registered under the trademark RoundWay®. Compared to ball bushing bearings, this product series had a 20-fold increase in load capacity.

In 1965, based on linear bearings, Thomson developed electromechanical actuator products. In 1969, Thomson invented the self-aligning Super Ball Bushing bearing, which extended the lifespan by 27 times and increased the load capacity by 3 times compared to traditional ball bushing bearings. In the 1980s, Thomson developed the twin rail system and ultra-rigid ball bushing bearing, obtaining a patent and improving precision by 10 times. In 1995, Thomson developed lightweight titanium ball screws for the aerospace industry. In the current century, Thomson has developed numerous new products in linear guides and electromechanical actuators.

Thomson's North American business covers the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with operations in South America through its subsidiary in Brazil. The company also has subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Sweden in Europe. In the Asia-Pacific region, Thomson has subsidiaries in South Korea, India, and Beijing, China, to conduct local business.

With nearly 80 years of technological innovation and product development, Thomson has built a wide range of product lines. These can be summarized into four major product lines: linear bearings and guides, ball screws, electromechanical actuators, and other precision components. Here, we will focus on the main product series of linear bearings and guides, as well as ball screws. The linear bearings and guides can be further divided into ball bushing bearings, round rail systems, formed linear guides, and linear guide systems.

The ball screw product line consists of ball screws, lead screws, ball splines, and sliding screws. Thomson offers corresponding miniature series for these product lines to cater to different market needs. Thomson's linear motion products find extensive applications in various industries such as material handling, food processing, healthcare, machine tool equipment, packaging equipment, aerospace, and factory automation.

In 2018, Thomson merged with Altra Industrial Motion, leveraging its leading technologies in control, drives, motors, power transmission, and precision linear motion to provide complete system solutions to the market. On October 27, 2022, Altra was acquired by Regal Rexnord Corporation. As a result, Thomson is now a subsidiary of the Regal Rexnord group.

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