IBT Industrial Solutions

09/02/2026

Hybrid Ceramic Bearings for Electric Motors: When Is the Upgrade Worth It?

Fluting or frosted raceways on a variable-frequency drive (VFD)-driven motor can indicate electrical erosion, but those patterns don’t automatically justify a ceramic upgrade. A hybrid bearing can interrupt current through one bearing while leaving the voltage source, or another current path, unchanged.

Hybrid ceramic bearings for electric motors are worth considering when evidence of failure, electrical path, and mechanical application support the change. Start with evidence from the failed bearing and motor-drive system, not the bearing number alone.
SKF

Learn when hybrid ceramic bearings can help electric motors, how to confirm electrical damage, compare options, and verify a retrofit.

08/31/2026

We appreciate everyone that came out for the IBT 2026 Dustin Cutright Memorial Golf Tournament this Saturday! 🏌️‍♀️It was a beautiful day full of fun and friendship, with proceeds going to Heart to Heart International. ❤️ And an extra special thank you to our sponsors.🤩 We'll see you all next year!! ⛳ Shamrock Hills Golf Club

08/26/2026

How to Size a Screw Conveyor: The Information You’ll Need Before Requesting a Quote

Learning how to size a screw conveyor starts with gathering the right data—not selecting a conveyor diameter. Material characteristics, required capacity, conveyor layout, trough loading, operating conditions, horsepower, and torque all influence the final design.

You do not need to complete every engineering calculation before requesting a quote. You do need to provide enough accurate information for an engineer to evaluate the application.

The more complete the information, the more accurately the conveyor can be sized for reliable performance—not just enough capacity to look good on a specification sheet.
KWS Manufacturing

Learn how to size a screw conveyor by gathering the right application data. Discover the information engineers need before requesting a quote.

08/14/2026

A big thank you to all of our awesome customers who came out to last night's IBT
Evening with the Oklahoma City Comets. A great night to engage with our product experts, visit with our suppliers, and enjoy an exciting baseball game!

07/27/2026

Abrasion Is the #1 Hose Killer—Here’s How to Stop It 🚫

A hydraulic hose fails. Not at peak pressure. Not during startup. Just… mid-shift.

Everything looked fine from the outside—until it didn’t. Now you’ve got downtime, cleanup, and a replacement job that wasn’t supposed to happen.

This is the part most teams miss: the majority of hose failures don’t come from pressure overload. They come from slow, constant abrasion that quietly eats through the hose until failure is inevitable.

And unlike pressure spikes, abrasion is predictable—and preventable.
Tompkins Industries Inc.

Most hydraulic hose failures come from abrasion—not pressure. Learn how to spot risk early and use nylon hose sleeves to extend hose life and reduce downtime.

07/21/2026

🎉 Celebrating 40 Years with IBT!

Please join us in congratulating Jim Stephan, Account Manager at our St. Joseph branch, on an incredible 40 years with IBT Industrial Solutions!

Throughout his career, Jim has built a reputation for putting customers first and sharing his extensive product knowledge to help solve even the toughest challenges. His dedication has earned him numerous honors, including multiple selections to the Heavy Hitters Club, the All-Star Team, and Salesman of the Year in 1991.

Beyond his accomplishments, Jim has always been willing to lend a hand—whether helping a customer, supporting a fellow employee, or sharing his expertise with the next generation.

Thank you, Jim, for four decades of outstanding service, commitment, and leadership. Congratulations on this remarkable milestone!

07/20/2026

Celebrating 50 Years of Dedication! 🙌 🎉

Please join us in congratulating Don Price on an incredible 50 years with IBT Industrial Solutions!

For five decades, Don has been a dependable member of the IBT family, always willing to step in, lend a hand, and support his coworkers wherever he's needed. His hard work, positive attitude, and commitment to helping others have made a lasting impact on both his teammates and the company.

Reaching 50 years of service is a rare milestone—one that reflects a lifetime of dedication, loyalty, and character.

Congratulations, Don, and thank you for 50 outstanding years of service. We are grateful for everything you've contributed to the IBT family and wish you continued success!

07/08/2026

Conveyor Gearbox Removal Problems: Why Shaft-Mounted Drives Seize Over Time

As conveyor systems age, corrosion, contamination, vibration, and shaft fretting can lock traditional shaft-mounted drives into place. By the time maintenance crews attempt removal, the gearbox can become effectively fused to the shaft.

That’s why more facilities are paying closer attention to gearbox serviceability — not just torque ratings and horsepower.

The Regal Rexnord Falk BK & BF Gear Drives with the Torque-Assist (TA) Bushing System were designed specifically to solve these long-term conveyor gearbox removal and maintenance challenges.
Regal Rexnord

Learn why shaft-mounted conveyor gearboxes seize over time, what causes difficult gearbox removal, and how TA Bushings help reduce downtime and maintenance risk.

06/30/2026

☀️ Week 4 of IBT's June Safety Awareness Month: Heat Safety & Heat Stress Prevention

As temperatures rise this week, so does the risk of heat-related illnesses—especially for employees working in warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and outdoor environments.

Heat stress can happen faster than you think, but it's also one of the most preventable workplace hazards.

This week, make heat safety a priority by remembering to:
💧 Stay hydrated throughout your shift—even before you feel thirsty.
🌬️ Increase airflow with fans and cooling equipment.
🦺 Wear cooling gear and lightweight, breathable PPE when appropriate.
⏸️ Take scheduled breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas.
👀 Watch for signs of heat exhaustion, including dizziness, fatigue, headaches, nausea, and excessive sweating.

A proactive approach to heat safety helps protect your team, reduce downtime, and keep operations running safely all summer long.

Featured Solutions:
✔️ Cooling Gear
✔️ Fans & Air Movers
✔️ Hydration Solutions
✔️ Warehouse Safety Products

Keep your team cool, comfortable, and protected.

👉 Explore workplace safety solutions at https://hubs.ly/Q04n6TN90

06/25/2026

Why Corrosion Is Still Causing Downtime in Modern Plants 🏭

The coupling didn’t fail during peak load. It failed two weeks after a routine washdown.
At first, it was just vibration—nothing urgent. Alignment was checked. Bearings were inspected. Everything looked fine on paper. But the vibration kept getting worse, and eventually the line went down.
When the coupling was pulled, the issue wasn’t overload or misalignment.
It was corrosion—already advanced enough to roughen the metal surfaces, increase friction, and accelerate wear across the system.
That sequence plays out more often than most teams realize. Not as a sudden failure—but as a slow loss of performance that ends in downtime.
U.S. Tsubaki Power Transmission, LLC

Corrosion in industrial equipment increases wear, friction, and downtime over time. Learn what causes it and how plants combat it.