Automated warehousing

Bearings & Motion Components for Warehouse Automation

Automated warehousing systems — AS/RS stacker cranes, shuttle vehicles, AGVs, and AMRs — run continuously in high-cycle, high-speed environments where every second of retrieval time affects total system throughput. The telescopic forks that extend into racking to pick and place loads, the slewing bearings that rotate AGV platforms, and the linear guides that position lifting carriages all operate under sustained repetitive motion with tight positioning tolerances. Component failure at any point means a full lane outage, cascading delays across the facility, and costly unplanned maintenance.

BOM manufactures telescopic rails, complete telescopic fork assemblies, slewing bearings, and linear guides engineered specifically for intralogistics and warehouse automation applications. With full-spectrum custom manufacturing capability — including precision-ground telescopic rail surfaces, application-matched slewing bearing configurations, and turnkey fork assemblies ready for direct installation — BOM delivers solutions where standard catalog components fall short:

Precision-ground telescopic rails for smooth, low-friction extension and retraction
Complete telescopic fork assemblies — rails, bearings, transmission, structure, and motor integrated
Slewing bearings for AGV steering and rotary platform applications
Linear guides for high-accuracy carriage positioning and lifting systems
High-cycle durability for 24/7 continuous automated warehouse operation
Full-specification custom manufacturing — dimensions, materials, coatings, and bearing structure

High-Cycle Continuous Operation

Automated warehouses run 24/7 with thousands of pick-and-place cycles per day. Every telescopic fork extension, every AGV rotation, and every carriage traverse accumulates wear that degrades positioning accuracy over time. BOM manufactures telescopic rails with precision-ground raceways that maintain consistent, low-friction sliding performance across millions of extension cycles, and slewing bearings engineered for the sustained rotational loads of continuous AGV and shuttle operation — ensuring stable system throughput without mid-shift performance degradation or unplanned maintenance stops.

Smooth Motion, Lower Cost

Telescopic fork performance depends on how smoothly the rails extend and retract under load. Standard-machined rail surfaces generate inconsistent friction that increases motor load, accelerates wear, and drives up energy and maintenance costs over millions of operating cycles. BOM manufactures telescopic rails using a precision grinding process that achieves smoother raceway surfaces at a lower cost than traditional high-end machining methods. The result is consistently low-friction, low-resistance sliding motion from the first cycle onward — reducing drive motor power consumption, extending rail and bearing service life, and lowering total cost of ownership for high-volume warehouse automation installations.

Turnkey Integration

System integrators building stacker cranes, shuttles, and AMRs need motion components that arrive ready to install — not raw parts that require additional machining, assembly, and qualification on-site. BOM manufactures complete telescopic fork assemblies that integrate rails, bearings, transmission components, structural frames, and drive motors into a single unit, ready for direct bolt-on installation. This eliminates assembly labor, reduces integration risk, and shortens equipment build time for warehouse automation OEMs and system integrators.

BOM Products for Warehouse Automation

Telescopic Rails

Precision-ground telescopic slide rails for AS/RS and shuttle fork mechanisms — the core linear extension component within telescopic fork assemblies.

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Telescopic Forks

Complete ready-to-install fork assemblies integrating rails, bearings, transmission, structure, and motor — for AS/RS stacker cranes, shuttles, and AMR pick-and-place systems.

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Slewing Bearings

Rotary support bearings for AGV steering mechanisms, rotary sorting platforms, and shuttle turntable applications requiring smooth, load-bearing rotation.

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Linear Guides

High-accuracy linear guide systems for stacker crane lifting carriages, precision positioning stages, and other warehouse automation axes requiring tight linear travel tolerances.

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Application Cases

Precision-Ground Telescopic Rails and Forks for AS/RS Stacker Crane

Precision-Ground Telescopic Rails & Forks — AS/RS Stacker Cranes

In conventional AS/RS stacker cranes, telescopic fork rails are typically finished by standard machining processes. As retrieval speeds and cycle frequencies increase in modern high-throughput warehouses, standard-finished rail surfaces generate higher friction and inconsistent sliding resistance over extended operation — leading to increased motor load, accelerated wear, and degraded positioning accuracy that reduces first-attempt pick reliability.

BOM manufactures telescopic rails and complete telescopic fork assemblies using a precision grinding process that produces smoother raceway surfaces at a lower cost than traditional high-precision machining methods. The ground surfaces deliver consistently low friction and smooth extension travel from the first cycle onward, reducing drive motor power requirements while maintaining reliable positioning accuracy across millions of high-speed extension cycles. Currently in use by China’s top 3 automated warehousing companies, BOM’s precision-ground telescopic solutions have demonstrated improved system stability and reduced total cost of ownership for high-volume AS/RS installations.

Bearings & Motion Components for Warehouse Automation: Why Choose BOM?

BOM Bearing Factory — Precision Manufacturing for Warehouse Automation

Trusted by Leading Warehouse Automation Companies

BOM Bearing is a professional manufacturer of precision motion components for warehouse automation and intralogistics applications. Trusted by China’s top 3 automated warehousing companies, BOM manufactures telescopic rails, complete telescopic fork assemblies, slewing bearings, and linear guides that deliver proven performance in high-cycle, continuous-duty AS/RS, shuttle, AGV, and AMR systems.

ISO 9001, IATF 16949, and ISO 14001 certified — quality and environmental standards validated at every production stage. Full-specification customization from non-standard dimensions and alternative materials to specialized coatings and complete bearing architecture redesign — engineered to your exact requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a telescopic rail and a telescopic fork?

A telescopic rail is a linear extension component — a precision-ground slide rail that enables multi-stage telescopic motion. A telescopic fork is a complete ready-to-install assembly that integrates telescopic rails together with bearings, transmission components, structural frames, and drive motors into a single functional unit. System integrators can purchase telescopic rails as individual components for custom fork designs, or purchase complete telescopic fork assemblies for direct bolt-on installation. BOM manufactures both.

What type of slewing bearing is used in AGVs and warehouse rotary platforms?

AGVs and rotary sorting platforms typically use single-row four-point contact ball slewing bearings or crossed roller slewing bearings, depending on the load magnitude and precision requirements. Four-point contact types handle combined radial, axial, and moment loads in a compact cross-section and are suitable for most AGV steering and platform rotation applications. Crossed roller types offer higher rigidity and rotational accuracy for applications requiring precise angular positioning under heavy loads. BOM manufactures both types in standard and custom configurations for warehouse automation applications.

How do I select the right telescopic fork stroke length and number of stages?

Stroke length is determined by the racking depth — the fork must extend far enough to fully engage the load at the deepest storage position. The number of stages (typically 2-stage or 3-stage) affects the retracted length and extension ratio: more stages allow a shorter retracted length for the same stroke, but add mechanical complexity and weight. For single-deep racking, a 2-stage fork is usually sufficient. For double-deep racking, a 3-stage fork is typically required to reach the rear position. BOM manufactures telescopic forks and rails in multiple stage configurations, with custom stroke lengths available to match specific racking dimensions.

Can BOM provide custom telescopic forks and motion components for specific warehouse automation requirements?

Yes. BOM manufactures fully custom telescopic rails, complete telescopic fork assemblies, slewing bearings, and linear guides for warehouse automation applications. Customization includes non-standard stroke lengths and stage configurations, modified load ratings, application-specific mounting interfaces, and complete bearing architecture redesign. BOM also manufactures turnkey telescopic fork assemblies with integrated drive systems, ready for direct installation into stacker cranes, shuttles, and AMR platforms. Contact our engineering team with your application specifications for a customized recommendation.

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