RMS on BJ Superior Acquisition: Synergies in Manufacturing

Turbomachinery International spoke with John Bartos, CEO of Rotating Machinery Services (RMS), about the company’s most recent acquisition of BJ Superior (BJS)—a manufacturer and service provider of babbitted bearings, labyrinth seals, and thrust assemblies. Bartos detailed the benefits of adding BJS to the RMS family, in addition to explaining the technical and market significance of advanced machining and in-house maintenance services.

Employee at South Houston workshop; image credit: BJ Superior

TURBO: How will RMS engineering expertise complement BJS production and refurbishment services?

Bartos: RMS has built a reputation for quality engineering in turbomachinery services, focusing on complex problem-solving, performance optimization, and reliability improvements. By integrating our engineering expertise with BJS’s manufacturing and refurbishment capabilities, we create a solution for our customers. RMS will be able to diagnose issues with customer equipment faster and be more responsive to repair recommendations. This integration also allows us to take a more proactive approach to failure analysis and predictive maintenance, reducing downtime and improving long-term equipment reliability.

TURBO: How does the acquisition generate shorter lead times for components?

Bartos: By bringing BJS into the RMS family, we now have dedicated in-house inspection, manufacturing, and refurbishment capabilities for critical components like babbitted bearings, labyrinth seals, and thrust assemblies. This reduces reliance on third-party suppliers, ensuring RMS customers take priority, thereby improving response times.

Additionally, RMS’s investments in advanced manufacturing techniques, such as metrology and precision machining, will complement and add to BJS’s current capabilities. Our engineering and production teams will work together, optimizing workflows to deliver faster turnaround times without compromising quality.

TURBO: What are the typical manufacturing steps for babbitted bearings, labyrinth seals, and thrust assemblies?

Bartos: Each of these components requires a meticulous production process to ensure precision and performance. With RMS’s engineering oversight and BJS’s manufacturing capabilities, we can refine these processes to maximize efficiency and precision.

Babbitted bearings require machining the bearing housing to specification, centrifugal or static casting of the babbitt layer, precision machining of the bearing surface, ultrasonic testing, and final inspection.

Labyrinth seals require computer numerical control (CNC) machining of raw materials to form seal geometries, heat treatment for wear resistance, final machining for exact tolerances, and inspection and quality control, including air and flow testing.

Thrust assemblies require machining the carrier and shoes, babbitting and finish machining for proper contact and load distribution, assembly and preload setting, and strict quality control testing.

TURBO: How will BJS’s location in South Houston benefit RMS’s ability to serve customers in the oil and gas industry?

Bartos: Houston is the epicenter of the oil and gas industry, and having a manufacturing and refurbishment facility in South Houston strategically positions us to better serve our customers. The proximity to major refining, petrochemical, and power generation operations allows us to offer faster response times for critical repairs and component replacements. Additionally, this location is close to other critical RMS sites, leading to improved collaboration between locations for time-sensitive projects.

TURBO: What sort of onsite technical capabilities make BJS unique in the bearing and seal manufacturing industry?

Bartos: BJS has built a strong reputation for its expertise in manufacturing precision-engineered bearings and seals, offering a range of specialized capabilities, such as full-service babbitt casting and refurbishment, advanced CNC machining, onsite testing and inspection, custom prototyping, and reverse engineering. By integrating RMS’s analytical expertise with BJS’s hands-on manufacturing capabilities, we can offer customers a high-quality level of service, from engineering design to finished component delivery.

TURBO: What are the latest technological trends in bearings and seals for turbomachines?

Bartos: To enhance reliability and efficiency, the industry is shifting toward high-performance materials, advanced coatings, and digital-monitoring solutions. Advanced coatings and surface treatments include diamond-like carbon and polymer-based coatings that reduce friction and wear. Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, is being explored for complex bearing geometries and rapid prototyping.

Integrated condition monitoring involves embedding bearings and seals with sensors for real-time health diagnostics. Finally, hybrid bearings use ceramic rolling elements and fluid-film technology to improve performance in challenging conditions. At RMS, we actively invest in these technologies to provide customers with solutions that enhance machinery performance and reduce operational risks.

TURBO: What can the component manufacturing industry do to shorten lead times for critical markets, such as oil and gas, power generation, and petrochemical?

Bartos: To meet the increasing demand for faster turnaround times, manufacturers need to embrace vertical integration by controlling the full production cycle in-house, eliminating third-party delays. Also, CNC programming advancements and automated metrology can reduce cycle times while maintaining precision.

Manufacturers should maintain an inventory of high-demand parts to reduce production lead times, as well as strengthen domestic material sourcing to minimize dependency on overseas suppliers for raw materials. With the acquisition of BJS, RMS is taking a proactive approach to these challenges, ensuring that our customers receive high-quality components with industry-leading turnaround times.