BIS Certification for Porous Metal Powder Oil-Impregnated Bearings

Porous metal oil-impregnated bearings - often called sintered bronze bushes or self-lubricating bearings - are made by compacting metal powder and sintering it into a solid but porous bush. Those tiny interconnected pores are then vacuum-filled with lubricating oil. As the shaft turns and the bearing warms, oil is drawn out of the pores to form a lubricating film, and is reabsorbed when it cools - so the bearing lubricates itself with no external oiling.

This maintenance-free, quiet, low-cost operation makes them perfect for small and mid-size motors and consumer products - fans, mixers, washing machines, power tools, automotive auxiliaries, and office equipment. They are one of the highest-volume bearing types in the appliance and fractional-motor industries, which is why they are covered under the Bearings (Quality Control) Order, 2025 and now require the BIS ISI Mark under IS 3980:1982.

IS 3980:1982 specifies the density, porosity, oil content, dimensions, and strength that make a sintered bush perform reliably over its life. Since these bushes go into mass-produced motors and appliances, OEM buyers test them rigorously and increasingly insist on the ISI Mark before placing volume orders. Standphill India prepares your powder-metallurgy line and oil-impregnation and inspection process for the BIS audit, coordinates testing against IS 3980, and secures the licence - helping fractional-motor and appliance-component makers stay on approved-vendor lists.

BIS-recognized laboratories evaluate porous metal oil-impregnated bearing against IS 3980:1982 for:

• Density & porosity - sintered structure within specified range
• Oil content - impregnated oil volume per IS 3980
• Dimensions & tolerances - bore, OD, length, after impregnation
• Radial crushing strength - mechanical integrity of the bush
• Hardness - within specified limits
• Surface finish - running-bore quality for self-lubrication

Typical timeline: 8-14 weeks. Foreign manufacturers (FMCS) may take longer due to overseas audit scheduling.

• BIS application form (Manakonline)
• Factory registration proof
• MSME / Udyam certificate
• Manufacturing process flow chart
• List of machinery (grinding, heat treatment, assembly)
• List of in-house testing equipment
• Bearing steel grade details
• Product range & size designations
• Trademark / brand registration
• AIR appointment (foreign mfr.)
• BIS-recognized lab test report

Being an MSME under the Bearings QCO 2025 gives you two significant advantages: a longer compliance window (9 months for Small, 12 months for Micro) AND substantial discounts on BIS ISI Mark marking fees - the per-unit fee paid to BIS based on your annual production or import volume.

Standphill India is a global BIS consultancy that handles porous metal oil-impregnated bearing certification end-to-end - from application and factory-audit preparation to lab testing and licence grant. We serve Indian manufacturers and overseas producers in China, Japan, Germany, the USA, and Korea with complete FMCS and Authorized Indian Representative services. BIS consultancy services all over the world.