Air Bearings Market Size, Share and Growth Analysis Report - Forecast Trends and Outlook (2025-2034)

The global air bearings market reached a value of USD 7.06 Billion in 2024. The market is further estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.80% during 2025-2034 to reach a value of USD 13.63 Billion by 2034.

Global Air Bearings Market Growth Rate

The characteristics of air bearings such as stability, frictionless operation, environmentally friendly design, and cost benefits make them viable for high-precision and high-speed applications.

The increasing use of high-precision tools and spindles in vehicle production has resulted in a significant demand for air bearings, generating opportunities for the market expansion. As the sector observes a new phase of industrialization, the demand for precision tools is increasing. Due to the increasing need for accuracy, the advent of precision machining across a range of applications has created a demand for efficient components that allow smooth operations.

Key Trends and Developments

Growing manufacturing sector; rising industrial use of air bearings; technological advancements; and increasing demand for cleanrooms are impacting the air bearings market growth.

Mar 30, 2022

IBS introduced its latest in-line interferometer solutions at LOPEC, which utilises the air bearing technology for areal surface measurements of micro and nano scale structures. It is ideal for quality checking of printed electronics in their manufacturing process.

Expanding manufacturing sector

The manufacturing sector across the world is growing aided by government support owing to its role in the economic development. The growing manufacturing sector including automotive, aviation, semiconductor, etc. is expected to boost the air bearings demand globally.

Increasing industrial use of air bearings

The major industries making use of air bearings include metrology, Flat Panel Display (FPD), semiconductor, aerospace, and automotive, among others owing to their frictionless and high precision properties.

Development of air bearings with sensors

Manufacturers have developed air bearings with gap sensors to increase their performance and confirm proper installation. The sensors give information regarding the bearing health which increases system performance by decreasing downtimes.

Rising demand for cleanrooms

Air bearings produce almost no particulates that can get airborne since they are wear-free. This makes them excellent for cleanroom applications in biopharmaceutical research, as well as optics inspection, wafer inspection, flat-panel display inspection, and other cleanroom applications. The need for cleanrooms in biopharmaceutical operations is steadily increasing. A cleanroom is found in almost every facility that produces biologics or medicines.

Air Bearings Market Trends

Air bearings find use in the automotive sector for testing applications, as they are non-contact solutions and can eliminate friction. Flat round and rectangular air bearings are some of the most popular air bearing types used for testing applications in the automotive sector. The growing automotive sector fueled by rising disposable incomes and constant innovations is expected to propel the demand for air bearings.

Air bearings are used in the production of solar glass panels and solar cells. With the shift toward renewable energy sources, the demand for solar panels is also gaining traction, further contributing to the demand for air bearings.

Air Bearings Industry Segmentation

“Air bearings Market Report and Forecast 2025-2034” offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:

Market Breakup by Type

• Aerostatic Bearings
• Aerodynamic Bearings

Market Breakup by Speed Capacity

• < 1000 rpm
• 1000 - 60000 rpm
• >60000 rpm

Market Breakup by Application

• Precision Metal Tools
• High Speed Machines
• Coordinate Measuring Machines
• Others

Market Breakup by End Use

• Marine and Aviation
• Medical
• Automotive
• Machine Tools
• Others

Market Breakup by Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• LAMEA

Air Bearings Market Share

Based on type, aerodynamic bearings account for a significant share of the market

In disc data storage devices, the magnetic read/write devices are aerodynamic bearings that float near to the disc. These bearings have a small layer of quickly flowing pressurised liquid or gas between the bearing surfaces that supports the load. As the mechanical components do not make contact, there is no sliding friction, permitting bearings to reduce wear, and vibration as compared to other types of bearings. Hence aerodynamic bearings have a wide use in the mechanical sector.

Meanwhile, aerostatic bearings function at zero speed and no friction and these are widely used in grinding, machining, and micro positioning applications. These are required for nanoscale precision movements with high velocity stability over long trip distances.

Based on application, high speed machines significantly contribute to the global air bearings market revenue

High-speed milling machines make the use of air bearings as they yield faster, and lighter cuts compared with traditional milling machines. High-speed lathe machines can achieve speeds up to 160,000 rpm by integrating a non-contact air bearing into its air-powered spindle design.

Coordinate measuring machines make use of air bearings as they facilitate infinite resolution and do not contribute to friction. Another reason for the use of air bearings in coordinate measuring machines is that they are more repeatable and smoother than rolling element bearings and provide a more effective error correction.

Air Bearings Market Analysis by Region

The Asia-Pacific is home to several manufacturers of automotives, electronics, machinery, semiconductors, and aerospace components that use air bearings for maintaining precision. Japan’s developing railway sector is expected to aid the demand for air bearing products in the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, the Chinese demand for 5G technology and EV’s is expected to increase the need for semiconductor technology, and in turn, increase the utilisation of air bearings in the country.

Europe develops and produces civil and military aircraft, helicopters, aero-engines, and other systems and equipment. The civil aerospace and defence business is the strength of the regional aerospace and defence sector. Air bearings are helpful in various applications in the market such as aircraft tooling, assembly line moving, and high-density manufacturing as it allows precision storage of a number of aircraft within just a few inches.

Leading Air Bearings Market Manufacturers

The market players are engaged in providing high quality products to meet the increasing customer requirements.

Air Bearings Limited

Air bearings Limited (ABL), owned by Via Mechanics in Japan, is a manufacturer of air bearing solutions for applications such as dicing, drilling and routing, high-precision machining, and micro-machining, among others.

New Way Air Bearings, Inc.

Headquartered in the United States, New Way® Air Bearings, Inc is an independent designer and manufacturer of modular air bearing devices, as well as the supplier of porous media air bearing solutions, with products sold in over 30 countries.

OAV Air Bearings

Founded in 1964, OAV Air Bearings is a leading manufacturer of advanced air bearing technology and motion systems. The company has authorised distributors in various countries including the United States, Germany, Australia, Brazil, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, China and India.

IBS Precision Engineering BV

Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company specializes in engineering and design services for ultra precision components, modules and machines, non-contact measuring solutions, machine tool inspection and analysis products and services, nano metrology, and porous media air bearings.

Other notable players operating in the global air bearings market are Leuven Air Bearings Nv, and Mohawk Innovative Technology, Inc., among others.

Air Bearings Market Report Snapshots

Air Bearings Manufacturers