HERZOGENAURACH/SCHWEINFURT, July 23, 2004. Having to line up for hours on end is nothing unusual. But waiting is worthwhile. No other point offers a better view over the City of London. The Millennium Wheel, also known as the "London Eye", has made this stunning bird's-eye view possible. Up to now more than 20 million visitors have enjoyed the half-hour ride. This is also thanks to technology supplied by FAG and INA.

For four years, FAG bearings have ensured the wheel's smooth spin. The two heavy-weight large spherical roller bearings are incorporated in the hub - the core of the Millennium Wheel. The locating bearing (outside diameter 2.66m) has a weight of 6.3 tons and is firmly mounted on the shaft in axial direction. The floating bearing (outside diameter 2.62m) weighs 5.2 tons and can move on the shaft in order to compensate for longitudinal expansion. As the bearings are considered as safetyrelevant components, they were due for their second routine inspection at the beginning of 2004. This showed that the bearings look as good as new. No abrasion or wear could be detected.

The wheel's safe foothold is ensured by two large maintenance-free radial spherical plain bearings from ELGES. These bearings (bore diameter 440mm, outside diameter 600mm, width 218mm) were essential for slewing the wheel from its horizontal mounting position across the Thames into its vertical operating position, with resulting contact pressure in excess of 450 N/mm2. Since then, the bearings have had the task of compensating for windinduced micro-movements that would otherwise have an adverse effect on the comparatively stiff steel construction.

Thanks to ELGOGLIDE, a PTFE sliding layer developed by INA-ELGES, these large spherical plain bearings are maintenance-free and can accommodate extremely high loads with low moment levels. This guarantees long life even with contact pressures of 362 N/mm2 that are very high for radial spherical plain bearings. If it had not been for ELGES large spherical plain bearings, a totally different static design would have been required so that the wheel would probably look much less elegant today.

Undoubtedly the filigree construction has become a money spinner. Long since the construction costs have paid for themselves. As the fascination for locals and tour-ists alike is unbroken, the London municipal authorities have recently extended the operating permission from originally five to twenty years.

This success has inspired "imitators" worldwide. Around the globe, some 30 Ferris wheels are currently in their concept stage. As the Millennium Wheel represents an excellent reference, the construction company Hollandia is of course among the hot favorites in order-placing. It is also expected that the Schaeffler Group Industrial will once again contribute its expertise and products to the realization of new projects.

INA and FAG have consolidated their worldwide industrial business in the Schaeffler Group Industrial division.


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