Abbott manufactures billions of balls each year in a variety of sizes. Most are stainless or carbon steel, the rest are brass, aluminum and precious metals. Each material has unique production requirements, but the process is generally similar and has been refined over decades for efficiency and uniform quality.

Heading: In the first step, heading machines cut wire into short lengths and form it into spherical shapes between dies.

Deflashing: The flash line, a ridge left by the forming dies, is removed as balls roll between heavy, cast iron plates.

Heat treating: Carbon steel balls are next carburized and hardened. Heat treatment imparts the desired hardness and case depth.

Descaling: This step removes the residues and by-products for the preceding process.




Hard Grinding: Slow, meticulous grinding assures proper sizing and sphericity, with tolerances as close as ±.0001".

Finishing: Proprietary chemical and mechanical processes give the balls their final micro-smoothed finish, increasing wear resistance and product longevity.

Inspecting: All products pass through at least two 100% inspection stages, using proprietary, automated inspection processes.


We go through these lengthy efforts so that you can take us, and our products, for granted... confident that Abbott balls will perform reliably.