Course Description
Format: In-person Course
Where: Schaumburg, IL
Date: May 18-21, 2026
- Monday, May 18 – 8:00am-5:00pm CT
- Tuesday, May 19 – 8:00am-5:00pm CT
- Wednesday, May 20 – 8:00am-5:00pm CT
- Thursday, May 21 – 8:00am-5:00pm CT
Advanced Concepts of Bearing Technology
This course builds on the foundations of the Essential Course and challenges the experienced engineer in areas such as internal loading and Hertzian stresses, failure initiation criteria, friction & wear, and fatigue life calculation methods. This is an exceptional course for engineers with 2-3 years work experience in rolling element bearings or past attendees of the Essential Concepts of Bearing Technology. A general knowledge of the basic bearing types and terminology is required.
You will earn 32 clock hours upon completion of the course and they will be listed on your certificate of completion.
Learning Objectives
- Understand how bearing internal designs affect rolling element loading and life.
- Understand the different contact stresses and fatigue causing stress.
- Understand how lubricant film thicknesses are formed and characterized.
- Understand the role of surface finish and friction in the contact zones.
- Understand bearing deflections, stiffness and preloading.
- Understand the statistical nature of bearing failures.
- Understand advanced life calculations in standards.”
Who Should Attend
This course is intended for those with several years of bearing knowledge involving the design, application, selection and use of rolling element bearings. A basic knowledge of the bearing types, tolerances, part numbers, bearing terminology and load calculations are required. A technical degree or training is suggested.
Registration Rates
Member Rates
Early Bird First Registrant – $2,550
(Deadline until 3/4/26)
Regular First Registrant – $2,650
(Deadline: 3/5/26 – 4/20/26)
Late First Registrant – $2,700
(Deadline: 4/21/26 – 5/4/26)
Additional Registrants per Company Member receive a $200 discount per person
NON-MEMBER RATE
Early Bird First Registrant – $2,850
(Deadline until 3/4/26)
Regular First Registrant – $2,950
(Deadline: 3/5/26 – 4/20/26)
Late First Registrant – $3,000
(Deadline: 4/21/26 – 5/4/26)
Additional Registrants per Company Non-Member receive a $200 discount per person
Hotel Information
Chicago Marriott Schaumburg
50 N Martingale Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60173
You can book your room at the discounted rate of $149 per night. The hotel cut-off date is April 17, 2026.
Hotel Information
By booking in the MPMA room block, you receive a variety of benefits, including guaranteed accommodations, better networking opportunities with your peers, special guest status at the host hotel, and flexible cancellation terms if your plans change. MPMA advises against booking hotel rooms through third party booking sites such as Hotels.com, as there may be hidden fees, limited flexibility, and fewer rewards. MPMA does not work with a housing company and only MPMA Staff will reach out to you with details regarding the room block; any other companies that reach out to you regarding room reservations may be fraudulent and are not endorsed by MPMA. If you need assistance with your accommodations or have issues with the booking link provided by MPMA, please contact events@motionpower.org.
Instructors
Dr. Tim Ovaert
Dr. Tim Ovaert is currently a professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame. In addition to teaching mechanical engineering design, reliability engineering, and tribology, he conducts research on materials characterization, materials for tribological applications, and manufacturing.
Tim Ovaert received his BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois-Urbana and his Master of Engineering Management and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University. His industry experience includes serving as Plant Engineer at the DuraBar Division of Wells Manufacturing Company. Previously.
He has served as a technical consultant to more than twenty-five medium to Fortune 100 companies. He was named a National Young Investigator by the National Science Foundation, and is the recipient of the Ralph R. Teetor Award from the Society of Automotive Engineers, and the Burt L. Newkirk Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Ovaert has served as an associate editor for the ASME Trans., Journal of Tribology, and as the Chair of the ASME/STLE International Joint Tribology Conference. He is the author and/or co-author of over 120 technical publications, and is a Fellow of the ASME.
Dan Snyder
Dan Snyder has over 50 years experience in the bearing field. He has extensive experience with the design, application, life and performance analysis, lubrication, testing and failure analysis of rolling element bearings.
Mr. Snyder was a registered professional engineer and the author of various technical publications and industry trade publication articles. He has worked on various ISO Working Groups for rolling bearings and currently is a member of the ABMA’s Technical Adversary Groups for ISO (TAG) and ANSI (B3).. He is also a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Society of Tribology and Lubrication Engineers.
Mr. Snyder has worked for the Timken Company and SKF USA Inc. and has had his own consulting business, Bearing and Lubes Consulting, LLC, since retiring from SKF as Director of Application Engineering. He has been an instructor and consultant for ABMA courses for several years.
Lavern (Vern) D. Wedeven
Vern Wedeven is president of Wedeven Associates, Inc., Edgmont, PA a specialty, high tech, entrepreneurial company devoted to tribology research and development. He and his associates have developed specialized tribology test machines, test methodologies and analysis tools that link fundamental principles of tribology to service applications. Wedeven Associates Machine (WAM) technology provides tribology research capability for major bearing companies, military laboratories and research institutes. He is involved in major research projects and consulting that serve aerospace and other industries.
Vern Wedeven is a graduate of Calvin College (BS), University of Michigan (BSME) and Imperial College, London, Ph.D. Previous employment includes NASA Glenn Res Ctr., NASA Hdqts and SKF-America. He is the author of over seventy technical papers in the area of tribology and several chapters in reference books. He holds three patents and is the recipient of several awards from STLE, ASME and SAE.
Brian Werner
Brian Werner holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State University and a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. He spent 40 years at The Timken Company. He was a Senior Specialist and the last 14 years he spent in the Product Development group. He had worked in Application Engineering, Design Engineering, and Thermal Treatment groups.
Brian was awarded 6 patents and of those, 4 are related to bearing retainers and 2 related to split bearing. He is a member of ASME as well as the Canton Joint Engineering Council. In the council, he coordinates the annual Engineer For a Day event where local high school students and engineers are paired and spend a day together.
Photo Release
From time to time MPMA uses photographs, survey answers and testimonial of MPMA events in its promotional materials. Unless this permission is revoked in writing to the MPMA, by virtue of your attendance all attendees agree to the use of their likeness in such materials.
Cancellation and Payment Policy
Please view our cancellation policy.
Please view our late registration policy.
Please view our code of conduct.