CST Bearing

Family-owned since 1991, serving aerospace and machine shops with care

Our Story

Founded in 1991 by Hal “Craig” Townsend, a U.S. Army veteran with deep bearing industry roots.

Craig spent most of his early career at King Bearing, where he built strong technical knowledge in sourcing, interchange identification, and customer service. When King Bearing was acquired by Applied, Craig chose to take his experience and build something of his own, guided by the values he carried from both his military service and his years in the industry.

Craig founded CST Bearing Co alongside his wife, Carolyn Townsend, in 1991. Carolyn did not come from a bearing background, but she stepped into every role the business needed and helped shape the foundation that CST still relies on today.

CST Bearing Co has remained proudly veteran owned from the beginning.

Early Roots: Surplus, Sourcing, and Opportunity

In the early years, CST Bearing grew through hard work, careful sourcing, and strong instincts. The company started by:

  • acquiring and sorting military surplus

  • identifying high quality and out of production bearings

  • supplying machine shops, aerospace contractors, and industrial customers who needed the right parts quickly

Craig’s dedication to honest sourcing helped CST build early relationships with respected European and Japanese manufacturers.

What CST Bearing Co Does Today

CST Bearing Co is now a full-spectrum precision bearing supplier. Our specialties include:

  • Ball bearings

  • Needle bearings

  • Roller bearings

  • Thrust bearings

  • Linear motion components

  • OEM grade and interchange equivalent replacements

Who We Serve

  • Aerospace and defense

  • CNC and machining operations

  • Industrial manufacturing

  • Automation integrators

  • Maintenance and repair teams

  • Distributors and resellers

Every order, whether it is a single replacement bearing or a full production requirement, receives fast and accurate support.

Where We Operate

CST Bearing Co is located in Santa Ana, California, and serves customers throughout the United States with dependable fulfillment and clear communication.

Our Principles

The same values Craig and Carolyn built the business on continue to guide CST today:

  • Put the correct part in the customer’s hands

  • Keep lead times realistic and fast

  • Communicate clearly and honestly about stock and sourcing

  • Maintain accuracy and consistency

  • Treat every order with care and urgency

These values created CST Bearing Co’s reputation, and they remain unchanged.