What's the Difference Between Lip Seals & Non-Contact Seals?

GMN Bearing USA’s ABEC 7 high precision ball bearings are made for high speed and heavy load applications.

GMN angular contact bearings (spindle bearings) are expertly crafted for speed, precision, & accuracy.

GMN radial ball bearings are versatile, great in small spaces & when axial loads move in both directions.

We know that not every application requires super, high-precision bearings. We stock other industrial parts from quality brands.

Our one-way sprag clutches are great for applications with low to high torque capacity.

Includes built-in ball bearing support. Supports HEAVY loads & has a high torque capacity: 53 to 588 Nm. Bore (ID) sizes: 10 to 60 mm (0.393 to 2.362 in)

Includes built-in ball bearing support. Supports MEDIUM loads & low to medium torque capacity: 53 to 267 Nm. Bore (ID) sizes: 17 to 40 mm (0.669 to 1.57 in)

No built-in ball bearing support. Good for large orders & low to high torque needs: 1 to 2673 Nm. Bore (ID) sizes: 2 to 240 mm (0.078 to 9.448 in)

No built-in ball bearing support. Has no RPM limits & Supports high torque needs: 609 to 14,060 Nm. Bore (ID) sizes: 38.09 to 220 mm (1.499 to 8.66 in)

This heavy-duty clutch (aka a hold-back clutch) is good for high torque operations and ensures motion freezes in place. Bore (ID) sizes: 15 to 40 mm. (0.59 to 1.73 in)

Designed for HEAVY-DUTY applications that require tough durability.

Our non-contact labyrinth seals are the first line of protection for bearing systems.

The best protection for your bearing. Easy to install with a simple “drop-in” next to your bearing. No added space needed. CF seals offer 100% sealing efficiency against splashing liquids.

Protection against low contamination & splashing liquids.

Designed with grooves in the outer ring to offer more protection (than our L-type seal) against contamination and direct spray liquids. Liquid gets pushed out through outer grooves when in rotation.

Our GMN Gap Seals are plastic and a great choice for washdown applications, such as food conveyors and food manufacturing facilities

Lip Seals vs Non-Contact Seals

CRITERIA	LIP SEAL	NON-CONTACT SEAL
Wear	by friction	none
Power Loss	by friction	no power loss: may lead to energy savings & smaller units
Speed Limit	material dependent	none
Live Tool	operation limited by wear to lip seal	unlimited operation
Lubrication	required at the sealing location	no lubrication required
Mating Parts	hardening & grinding required for the shaft at higher speeds to reduce wear.	hardening & grinding not required.
Temperature Range	limited due to material (plastic or rubber)	Large range. Very low: -40°F (-40°C) to very high: 340°F (140°C) (metallic material steel + aluminum)
Space Requirement	small	GMN Labyrinth Seals: Small
Field of Applications	grease lubrication	grease lubrication
	oil lubrication	oil lubrication: if oil level below sealing diameter oil mist lubrication
	water: limited, as water may increase the friction at sealing location.	water: with the use of rust proof materials & level below sealing diameter.
	fine & coarse granular contamination not possible, as this environment causes rapid wear of the lips on the lip seal.	fine & coarse granular contamination can be sealed reliably if applied to horizontal shaft.

What’s the Difference Between Lip Seals & Non-Contact Seals?

Lip Seals vs Non-Contact Seals