Overview
ISO 21433:2018 - Plain bearings - Handling of plain bearings provides requirements and practical guidance for the safe and reliable storage, transportation, handling, installation, operation and replacement of plain bearings and related parts. The document helps prevent premature damage, contamination and deformation of bearings during the full handling lifecycle.
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard is organized around four main handling phases and includes detailed guidance and requirements:
Applications
ISO 21433 is practical for activities that directly affect bearing life and machine reliability:
- Protecting bearings during logistics and storage
- Specifying packaging and container requirements for shipment
- Establishing installation procedures in production and assembly lines
- Commissioning and maintenance procedures for industrial equipment
- Defining supplier–customer agreements on rust inhibitors, cleaning agents and documentation
Who should use this standard
- Bearing manufacturers and suppliers
- Machine designers and assembly engineers
- Maintenance and reliability engineers
- Warehouse, logistics and quality assurance personnel
- Procurement teams specifying bearing handling requirements
Related standards
- ISO 4378-1 - Plain bearings: terms, definitions, classification and symbols (referenced normative document).
ISO 21433:2018 is a practical reference to reduce handling-related failures and to standardize safe, consistent practices for plain bearings across manufacturing, storage and field service operations.
