Concealed bearing and shrouded bearing hinges vs. ball bearing

Why concealed bearing and shrouded bearing hinges beat ball bearing hinges hands down

Not all hinges are created equal. Not all hinges are right for every door. Advances in hinge design and technology have created hinges that can cope with the sternest tests and the toughest conditions without missing a beat and without maintenance. That is why we no longer sell ball-bearing hinges, instead, we have adopted more modern hinge technology to create beautiful hardware schemes that will not leak, slump, grind to a halt, or otherwise let you down.

What are Concealed Bearing and Shrouded Bearing Hinges

Our Concealed Bearing and Shrouded Bearing Hinges are just two cases in point. So what are they, and what advantages do they offer over ball-bearing hinges to your next-door or cabinet project?

Concealed bearing hinges: sleek and robust hinges available with advanced polymer bushes concealed inside designed to reduce hinge friction and provide a maintenance-free operation. They come in in either a fixed-pin 3-knuckle or lift-off configuration. An impressive 32 year guarantee demonstrates our faith in this top-notch product.

Shrouded bearing hinges: Shrouded Bearing Architectural Hinges combine high-performance polymer bearing technology with a clean design that can be used on fire doors. They are robust and reliable hinges with a 25-year guarantee and can operate flawlessly for 200,000 cycles.

	Shrouded Bearing Hinges	Concealed Bearing Hinge
Door weights	120kg	160kg
Cycles Tested	200,000	1,000,000
Certifire approved	✔	✔
Guarantee	25 years	32 years

Both have been designed by Cooke Brothers to offer a step up, a bells and whistles version of the traditional ball bearing hinges, superseding them in form and functionality.

Benefits of Concealed Bearing and Shrouded Bearing Hinges

So what are the benefits of Concealed Bearing and Shrouded Bearing Hinges that give them the edge over ball bearing hinges and make them anything but ordinary? In contrast to old-fashioned ball bearings, which are susceptible to the accumulation of dirt and grease, Cooke’s contemporary hinges are designed differently to remain clean and supremely functional this quality over their long life:

Enhanced Aesthetics

With a sleek and low-profile design and a high-tech polymer bush inside the middle of three knuckles, these hinges are the perfect choice to complement modern, understated design styles. The secret technology of the polymer bush is hidden inside so that they will perform beautifully for years, thanks to the unrivalled Cooke Brothers hinge guarantee: the concealed bearing hinge has a 32 year warranty, and the Shrouded Bearing Hinge has 25.

Smooth and Silent Operation

Cooke Brothers’ Concealed Bearing and Shrouded Bearing Hinges operate smoothly and silently for an added touch of luxury. The polymer bearings offer whisper-quiet and resistance-free operation, so the door always moves seamlessly and quietly, every time.

Durability and Longevity

Cooke Brothers Concealed Bearing and Shrouded Bearing Hinges have been tested, tested and tested again – up to 200,000 cycles – and are built and guaranteed to last. What’s more, long life and optimum operation are all maintenance-free without the need for lubrication or any other kind of upkeep. all thanks to that ingenious polymer bush. Unlike traditional ball bearings that can collect dirt and grease residue, Cooke Brothers’ more modern version is clean and will remain so throughout its long life.

Security Reinforcement

the good looks and longevity of these Cooke Brothers hinges do not come at the expense of security. They may look sleek, but these hinges are packed with security features. They are made from high-grade stainless steel which makes them resistant to attack than other hinges. A Built-In Hinge version – commonly known as a dog bolt, is available in the Shrouded Bearing version with either ANSI or staggered fixing holes. It is made to prevent the door from being opened even if the hinge pin is removed or the hinge knuckle is cut completely away.

Tested and proven

Our concealed Bearing and Shrouded Bearing hinges have been independently tested to within an inch of their lives. The Shrouded Bearing Hinges can cope with a door weighing up to 120kg, with or without a door closer, while the Concealed Bearing version will handle up to 160kg. Impressive. But that’s not all. The test for evaluating the endurance of hinges was conducted in accordance with the BS EN1935:2002 standard to Grade 14, but it went beyond the standard testing cycle of 200,000, pushing through to 1 million cycles instead. This rigorous test simulated the stress experienced by a single hinge supporting a 160kg door, which is typically hung with three hinges and the results were remarkable: the lateral wear measured was a mere 0.02mm – less than half the thickness of a human hair – and the vertical wear was 0.74mm, both of which are well within the EN1935 standard limits. In a separate test in 2014, Cooke Brothers performed an extended endurance test with a door weighing up to 140kg due to additional hardware, running it for 10.2 million cycles. The wear observed was still within the acceptable range defined by EN1935, confirming the durability of the hinges, even without lubrication. That’s why Cooke Brothers guarantees the performance of their Concealed Bearing hinges for 25 years.

Cooke Brothers’ range of high-quality hinges

Of course, we don’t just make Concealed Bearing and Shrouded Bearing hinges – you name a hinge, and we probably make it! Lift off, cranked, concealed, self-closing, glass door hinges, cabinet hinges – you name it, we’ve got it! We hold a full range of twenty-two standard finishes in our full hinge ranges so there is sure to be a hinge that suits any design scheme you have in mind. But if your design imagination knows no bounds, talk to us about special finishes, we can do that too.

If you’d like to see for yourself how Cooke Brothers’ Concealed Bearing and Shrouded Bearing Hinges outstrip the ball-bearing competition, read more and download full concealed bearing technical specifications. We certainly know our stuff about hinges since we have been making brass cabinet fittings since 1872 and we are fully independently audited, Certifire-accredited, with a trusted reputation across the hardware trade.