Franke Torque Bearings for Radar Antennas

sponsoredPrecision in Motion Franke Torque Bearings for Radar Antennas

2026-08-12 2 min Reading Time

A design platform beyond conventional bearings

Wire-race bearings open up entirely new design possibilities compared to conventional bearings. Instead of being limited by predefined geometries and materials, engineers can tailor the bearing concept to the application. This enables a unique combination of lightweight design, high load capacity and functional integration – essential for mobile systems operating under demanding conditions.

Integrated drive technology as the missing piece

To fully exploit this design potential, integrating the drive directly into the bearing becomes a key factor. Torque motors enable a direct drive concept without additional transmission elements such as gears or pinions. This significantly reduces mechanical complexity, eliminates the need for complex lubrication systems and improves overall system efficiency by minimizing friction and backlash.

Reliable performance under extreme conditions

Mobile radar systems impose demanding requirements on rotational components. Large diameters of up to 1,800 mm must be combined with high stiffness, low friction and precise positioning accuracy. Even under wind loads, vibration and temperature fluctuations, the antenna must remain exactly aligned and capable of continuous operation.

Efficiency and reliability through integration

By integrating the torque motor directly into the bearing, the entire drive concept becomes significantly more compact and robust (see highlighted area in the image). The elimination of gears and pinions reduces moving masses and mechanical interfaces, resulting in lower wear and higher reliability. At the same time, the simplified design minimizes maintenance requirements and improves overall energy efficiency.

Enabling new design freedom in radar applications

The combination of wire-race bearing technology and integrated torque drive creates a compact, efficient and low-maintenance solution tailored to the demanding requirements of mobile radar systems. By reducing complexity and improving performance at the same time, it opens up new possibilities for design and system integration – a decisive advantage wherever reliability and precision are critical.

Subscribe to the newsletter now

Don't Miss out on Our Best Content

Business E-mail

Please enter a valid mailadress.

By clicking on „Subscribe to Newsletter“ I agree to the processing and use of my data according to the consent form (please expand for details) and accept the Terms of Use. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. The consent declaration relates, among other things, to the sending of editorial newsletters by email and to data matching for marketing purposes with selected advertising partners (e.g., LinkedIn, Google, Meta)

Date: 08.12.2025

Naturally, we always handle your personal data responsibly. Any personal data we receive from you is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. For detailed information please see our privacy policy.

Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes

I hereby consent to Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planck-Str. 7-9, 97082 Würzburg including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. A list of all affiliated companies can be found here

Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above, including for example specialist journals and books, events and fairs as well as event-related products and services, print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters, raffles, lead campaigns, market research both online and offline, specialist webportals and e-learning offers. In case my personal telephone number has also been collected, it may be used for offers of aforementioned products, for services of the companies mentioned above, and market research purposes.

Additionally, my consent also includes the processing of my email address and telephone number for data matching for marketing purposes with select advertising partners such as LinkedIn, Google, and Meta. For this, Vogel Communications Group may transmit said data in hashed form to the advertising partners who then use said data to determine whether I am also a member of the mentioned advertising partner portals. Vogel Communications Group uses this feature for the purposes of re-targeting (up-selling, cross-selling, and customer loyalty), generating so-called look-alike audiences for acquisition of new customers, and as basis for exclusion for on-going advertising campaigns. Further information can be found in section “data matching for marketing purposes”.

In case I access protected data on Internet portals of Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG, I need to provide further data in order to register for the access to such content. In return for this free access to editorial content, my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here. This does not apply to data matching for marketing purposes.

Right of revocation

I understand that I can revoke my consent at will. My revocation does not change the lawfulness of data processing that was conducted based on my consent leading up to my revocation. One option to declare my revocation is to use the contact form found at https://contact.vogel.de. In case I no longer wish to receive certain newsletters, I have subscribed to, I can also click on the unsubscribe link included at the end of a newsletter. Further information regarding my right of revocation and the implementation of it as well as the consequences of my revocation can be found in the data protection declaration, section editorial newsletter.