Schaeffler Displayed Bearing Solutions
The Schaeffler Group with its brands INA, FAG and LuK displayed the widest product range of all rolling bearing manufacturers at this year’s Hannover Messe trade fair. In more than 930 square meters of exhibition space in the center of Hall 21, the company showed not only solutions for customers from the industrial sector but also innovations from Schaeffler’s Automotive division. “Thus we capitalize on the synergies of our three major brands and demonstrate that findings in one segment can be transferred to another. Our customers benefit from a development team of more than 5,000 employees worldwide,” said Robert Schullan, Chairman of Schaeffler Group Industrial.
The Schaeffler Group presented innovations and solutions in connection with the central trade fair topics of Energy Efficiency, Total Cost of Ownership and Performance Increase in application-related theme stations, geared to the various target groups. Exhibition highlights include KUVE..-B-HS high-speed linear guides, new X-life quality bearings, a newly developed spherical roller thrust bearing, direct-drive units from Schaeffler’s mechatronics subsidiary IDAM as well as special rolling bearings that operate trouble-free under adverse conditions such as extreme cold or heat, in water or acid. All products offer long service life, maximum performance and minimum friction and thus contribute to more efficient energy usage.
A vivid example of high energy efficiency was the new four-row “Twin Tandem” angular contact ball bearing which replaces the tapered roller bearings formerly used in car hub units. Its low friction and the resulting energy savings were clearly shown in an impressive demonstration: Two wheels on a simulation pedestal were briefly accelerated and then were left to run down. One of the wheels was equipped with conventional tapered roller bearings, the other with the new “Twin Tandem” bearings. The wheel with the conventional bearings came to a standstill after approximately five revolutions, while the other one run and run and run. Translated into real numbers, the Schaeffler engineers have reduced friction by about 50 percent. If we assume a given vehicle emits 300g CO2 per kilometer and a yearly road performance of 15,000 km, then the reduction in friction will correspondingly lower the CO2 emission by 67.5 kg per year, per vehicle. “This principle can also be transferred to other fields of application,” explained Schullan.
An interesting glimpse into the future was offered at a theme station displaying current development projects. Two unconventional rolling bearing designs were in particular focus. The so-called ball roller bearing combines the best of both ball bearing and roller bearing technologies and requires less installation space. As a single or double row bearing it can support much greater loads. The use of the “ball roller” allows a further increase in performance density and service life and thus makes the machine more competitive. Another new development was the “tube roller bearing”. Its special feature: Some rolling elements are hollow and have a slightly larger diameter. This prevents slippage under varying load conditions without affecting other performance characteristics.
Rolling and plain bearing supports are principally aimed at minimizing friction. LuK Friction GmbH, a Schaeffler Group subsidiary, is concerned with precisely the opposite – the quick and controlled deceleration through deliberate friction. Its products, which were also on display in Hannover, are for example used in the overload clutches of agricultural machines. Moreover, they are incorporated in the centrifugal brakes and clutches of motor saws and separators as well as in wheel loaders and aluminum rolling mills, to name just a few.
New applications place ever higher demands on the friction material – incidentally, LuK Friction uses only absolutely environmentally friendly material. Sliding capability, high temperature resistance and favorable wear behavior as well as friction contact and strength requirements are essential aspects in this context. Here too synergies within the Schaeffler Group come to bear: All the clutch linings can be tested thoroughly on the Automotive division’s test facilities – something unique in the bearing industry.
With numerous success stories and innovations from core branches, the Schaeffler Group provided comprehensive information about Total Cost of Ownership and demonstrated how customers can minimize downtime over the entire life of their machine or plant as well as increase the operating reliability and achieve cost savings. In addition to rolling bearing solutions, the Group also focuses on products and services from its service subsidiary FAG Industrial Services (F'IS), including Condition Monitoring or Reconditioning. The new FAG ProCheck condition monitoring system was displayed for the first time in Hannover. This modular and robust latest-generation online monitoring system can be easily integrated into existing structures in steel, aluminum and cement mills or paper machines. The hardware can be flexibly adjusted and expanded. Just like all the other systems from the Herzogenrath maintenance specialists, FAG ProCheck makes it possible to plan maintenance operations well ahead thanks to the early recognition of the signs of impending failure. This contributes to a considerable reduction of overall costs.
The topic of e-services is becoming more and more important within the Schaeffler Group. For instance, the company presented its extended calculation program Bearinx® as well as the online product selection program medias® and the optimized Interchange System at different work stations. The fact that rolling bearings are not a closed book was shown with the help of Schaeffler Group Industrial’s newly developed online e-learning concept. The platform entitled medias®-campus offers insights into rolling bearings in brief, manageable learning units. For example, the user quickly learns how a specific bearing is designed, which basic functions it has and how the application determines the type of bearing used. The training course “Mounting of rolling bearings” contains useful advice for professional mounting and dismounting. A tour around the electronic product selection and advice system me-dias® rounds off the training on offer.
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