Double direction angular contact thrust ball bearings were developed by SKF to axially locate machine tool spindles in both directions. In these applications, a high degree of system rigidity is one of the main performance challenges, as the magnitude of elastic deformation under load determines the productivity and accuracy of the equipment. To keep up with the ever increasing performance challenges of precision applications, SKF developed a new generation of double direction angular contact thrust ball bearings. These super-precision bearings in the BTW series have a new, optimized design enabling them to accommodate higher speeds compared to bearings in the former 2344(00) series. The benefits of the new design are evident by the improved overall bearing performance.From one simple but inspired solution to a misalignment problem in a textile mill in Sweden, and fifteen employees in 1907, SKF has grown to become a global industrial knowledge leader. Over the years, we have built on our expertise in bearings, extending it to seals, mechatronics, services and lubrication systems. Our knowledge network includes 46 000 employees, 15 000 distributor partners, offices in more than 130 countries, and a growing number of SKF Solution Factory sites around the world.