Recent news from England was also much to the pleasure of the aerospace bearing experts of FAG Kugelfischer AG in Schweinfurt. The Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engine, designed to power the new long-range Airbus A340, is now not only a bestseller but also an official world-record holder. Equipped with Trent 500 engines, an Airbus A340-500 covered the distance of 16,600 kilometers from Singapore to New York in 18 hours and 18 minutes – the world’s longest commercial non-stop flight ever. Bearings from FAG played an important role in this achievement.
The A340-500 and A340-600 long-range jets are the most modern airliners of the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company EADS until jumbo competitor A380 will enter service in 2006. Each is powered exclusively by four Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines incorporating a new bearing generation. Developed by FAG’s aerospace bearing division in Schweinfurt, the bearings feature numerous integrated additional functions, including vibration damping. Moreover, various new materials have been deployed, such as high-alloy and temperature-resistant case-hardening steel for the bearing rings. These characteristics ensure maximum service life and reliability at the highest speeds even at bearing temperatures in excess of 300 degrees Celsius
This is absolutely essential with the four-jet ultra long-range aircraft from Airbus. The engines generate a nominal output of 53,000 lbs (corresponding to approx. 24 tons) thrust per engine for the A340-500 (with extended range) and 56,000 lbs (corresponding to approx. 26 tons) thrust per engine for the A340-600 (with higher capacity). The jets entered service in 2002 and in the meantime they connect the continents quickly, safely and economically. Some 170 aircraft have already been ordered – and each of them will fly with FAG bearings from Schweinfurt.
This also goes for the new engine projects Trent 900 (Rolls-Royce) and GP7000 (joint project of General Electric and Pratt/Whitney), both designed to power jumbo competitor A380. This is scheduled to take off with up to 600 passengers aboard in 2006. All bearing arrangements and many other components in the four engines are supplied by FAG.
Since 1969 the aerospace division has been an independent unit of FAG Kugelfischer AG. FAG Aerospace employs some 650 people at its manufacturing locations in Schweinfurt and Stratford (Canada). Organized as a product line, FAG Aerospace today is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-precision bearing systems for engines in airplanes, helicopters or the U.S. Space Shuttle as well as the European carrier rocket Ariane. Since 1 January 2002, FAG Kugelfischer AG has been a member of the Schaeffler Group (Herzogenaurach). Together with the workforce of INA and LuK, the Group employs some 54,000 people worldwide.
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