PBC Linear celebrates 40 years of growth

PBC Linear, located in Roscoe, held a company celebration to mark its 40th anniversary on Thursday, September 7, 2023.

The event welcomed customers, vendors, fellow successful business leaders and partners, sales representatives, and employees who have helped make PBC Linear a successful manufacturer of linear motion solutions over the last four decades.

Local dignitaries that attended the celebration included Laura Pollastrini, who attended on behalf of the Office of US Congressman Darin LaHood, State Representative and Assistant Minority Leader John M. Cabello and his legislative assistant Riley Stensland,  and Cheryl Larson, district director for State Senator Dave Syverson.

The special occasion included lunch, followed by a welcome speech from company CEO and president David Dieter. The company’s founder, Robert Schroeder, also gave a speech, in which he reflected on the last forty years of growth at the company. The agenda also incorporated a tour of the facility, a dessert reception, a roadshow demonstration, and a raffle.

Special recognition awards were presented to employees who have worked at the company for 10 or 15 years or more.

Pacific Bearing Company was founded by Schroeder in 1983 when he discovered an innovative solution to a common issue with linear ball bearings. This resulted in the creation and patent of their iconic red Simplicity bearing.

In 1997, the manufacturing company relocated its headquarters to a 150,000-square-foot facility in Roscoe where they continued to grow and expand to meet global needs.

In 2013, PBC Linear acquired LEE Controls LLC, and in 2014 founded 3D Platform, to provide large-format 3D printers that offer 200 percent more creative space than a typical desktop 3D printer.

In 2020, the company created an Applied Cobotics brand, designed to boost production without significant labor and also brought Augmented Reality (VR) training onto the factory floor.

This year the company continues to set the stage for growth as they look to the next forty years. One of their newer investments includes the impressive $5.6 million Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS), which contains four horizontal CNC mills, a 90-pallet change system, and over 1500 tooling options.

The company proudly participates in the annual Manufacturing Day (MFG Day). The goal of MFG Day is to showcase modern manufacturing careers to students, parents, teachers, and community leaders around the nation. PBC has hosted several educational institutions for the event, including Hononegah Community High School.

President David Dieter says, “PBC constantly looks forward, and we invest in and help foster the next generation of manufacturing leaders and engineers.”