About Us

We are multi-disciplinary engineers who specialise in mechanically treating surfaces with chemicals. Our chemical-mechanical surface treatments and tools adjusts friction either raising or lowering as needed, improves adhesion, raises surface energy and reactivity - in essence we engineer surfaces oxide layers; a subtle yet scientifically sophisticated approach! 

A typical user of our engineering technology is Delphi Automotive who use our friction enhancement treatment to achieve outstanding mechanical benefits. We have many other development relationships with leading brand owners in engineering, skin care and the domestic cleaning sectors.  Our technologies often provide counter-intuitive solutions in situations where the 'off the shelf' alternatives are ineffective or not reliable.

Uses for our technology are far reaching; more recently we have developed a range of tools, utilising similar chemical-mechanical principles for use in domestic cleaning, auto after market, skin care and medical applications.

Brief History

Ball Burnishing Machine Tools Ltd. was founded in 1979 to develop and manufacture precision bore sizing (ballizing or ball burnishing) machines. The TribTech trade name (tribos being Greek to rub) was adopted after we discovered means of cold welding metals with chemicals while trying to reduce ballizing friction. We describe the chemicals as 'anti-lubricants' because they act in the reverse of lubricants. 

We found that the consistency of the friction enhancing effect was influenced by the method of applying the chemicals to the surface, this lead to the development of novel chemical-mechanical Trib-Tools. These tools cause abnormally high absorption of chemical molecules into surface oxides. This effect was found to have many uses, for example some chemicals give inorganic metal surfaces organic characteristics and are used to improve epoxy to metal adhesion for joining and coating. 

for more information email: info8@tribtech.com

The TribTech name derives from "tribos" - Greek for 'rubbing'. 'TribTech' is a trade name used by Ball Burnishing Machine Tools Ltd. of 12 Brookmans Av. Hatfield, Herts. AL9 7QJ. United Kingdom;  Company Reg. No. 1408807, VAT Reg. No. 421 6210 04; a knowledge based company that develops, patents and licenses technology. All rights reserved by Ball Burnishing Machine Tools Ltd. Last modified: May 01, 2008 copyright © 1999/2008. The information and data provided herein should be considered generally representative for the tools and technologies described. In all cases users should carefully evaluate the tools and technologies to determine their suitability for a particular purpose.