Overview - ISO 21107:2015 (search structure for rolling bearings)
ISO 21107:2015 defines a standardized search structure and a properties vocabulary to identify rolling bearings, bearing housings, accessories and spherical plain bearings primarily when using electronic media (for example, online catalogs, e‑commerce portals and supplier websites). The standard establishes consistent property names and value domains so users and systems can describe bearing characteristics (dimensions, rolling element type, number of rows, cage, performance criteria, etc.) in a uniform way. It does not prescribe the programming methodology for search engines and it excludes linear-motion rolling bearings.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Search structure layout: Designed for use in electronic environments; the document describes a hierarchical classification (non‑leaf and leaf characterization classes) and property/value constructs suitable for XML-based data exchange.
- Properties and value domains: Detailed property vocabularies and permissible value domains are provided for many bearing types, including:
- Ball bearings (deep groove, angular contact, thrust, self‑aligning)
- Roller bearings (cylindrical, needle, spherical, tapered and thrust variants)
- Insert bearings, bearing housings and accessories
- Track rollers and bearing parts (balls, rollers, inner rings, collars)
- Spherical plain bearings and rod ends
- Consistent terminology: Uses existing ISO vocabulary (ISO 5593, ISO 6811 and others) to reduce ambiguity between suppliers and purchasers.
- Reference dictionary: ISO/TS 23768‑1 is identified as the reference dictionary for bearing classes, data element types and value domains.
Practical applications and who uses ISO 21107
- Bearing manufacturers and distributors: to build standardized online search tools and catalog databases that let purchasers identify bearings when OEM designations are unknown.
- E‑commerce and marketplace platforms: to harmonize product attributes across suppliers and improve search relevance.
- Procurement and MRO (maintenance, repair, operations) teams: to find compatible replacements quickly using property‑based searches (dimensions, load rating, mounting type).
- PIM/ERP integrators and software developers: to map product data to a consistent attribute vocabulary for APIs, XML feeds and electronic catalogs.
- Technical documentation and catalog authors: to adopt a common terminology that reduces errors in ordering and specification.
Related standards
- ISO/TS 23768‑1 - reference dictionary for rolling bearings
- ISO 5593 - rolling bearings vocabulary
- ISO 6811 - spherical plain bearings vocabulary
- ISO 1132‑1 - rolling bearings tolerances (terms and definitions)
Using ISO 21107:2015 helps improve bearing identification, lowers order errors, and streamlines electronic cataloging and searchability across suppliers and online channels.
