Posted to News on 28th Nov 2012, 16:00
Heat-resistant deep-groove ball bearings slash costs
With its Asset Improvement Programme (AIP), NSK helps users of all kinds of machinery and equipment to find bearings suitable for their application. Machine operators often seek NSK's advice because they are experiencing specific problems - which is exactly what happened in the case of this particular food tin manufacturer. The producer used shielded deep-groove ball bearings in a continuous furnace and found that the bearings had an average service life of just 15 days.
Specialists from NSK assessed the bearings' operating environment and established that the furnace had a maximum temperature of around 300degC. The bearings themselves reached a temperature of 120degC. This is much higher than the maximum temperature specified for conventional deep-groove ball bearings. The experts also discovered that the ambient air in the furnace was contaminated by particles of lacquer.
NSK then recommended the use of heat-stabilised bearings which are suitable for temperatures of up to 200degC. Thanks to NSK's extensive materials expertise, the company has several materials in its portfolio which are compatible with high surrounding temperatures.
The seals on the new bearings are also designed to cope with the specific conditions. The furnace's conveyor system is now fitted with deep-groove ball bearings featuring Viton seals, which means that the bearings can handle temperatures of up to 150degC. In addition to this, the seals keep ambient contamination out much more effectively than the shielded bearings previously used.
NSK's recommendations proved highly effective, and were quickly acted upon. The bearings' average service life was extended from 15 days to 3 months. On top of this, the whole conveyor's operating life increased substantially - from 15 days to 6 months.
This simple replacement had impressive financial consequences. Before the AIP analysis, the cost of replacement bearings and changing the conveyor totalled EUR24,500. Labour costs for replacing the bearings came to almost EUR2900 and production downtime set the manufacturer back EUR96,000. The total cost was therefore EUR123,400. Now, these expenses have fallen to just EUR8400; purchasing the bearings themselves costs a mere EUR160. This is equivalent to annual savings of EUR115,000.
For further information about heat-stabilised bearings and other products from NSK, go to www.nskeurope.com/.
