Schaeffler UK offers a range of rolling-bearing maintenance equipment, condition monitoring systems and reconditioning services, all available from a single source.

According to the company, companies are identifying ways that they can cut costs, reduce capital expenditure and prolong the life of their existing plant and production equipment, particularly those that rely on high-value capital plant and machinery.

Rolling bearings are often found at the heart of most rotating machines.

Schaeffler claims that, in order to prolong the life of this equipment, the correct mounting, maintenance and condition monitoring of these rolling bearings is critical and can help to avoid any costly, unplanned downtime.

Furthermore, instead of buying new replacement bearings for production machines, companies can look to cut costs by returning worn bearings for reconditioning.

The products and services from Schaeffler include: bearing mounting and dismounting equipment; lubricants; automatic lubricators; alignment and balancing tools; condition monitoring systems; and rolling-bearing reconditioning services.

The costs of reconditioning a large rolling bearing are said to be only a fraction (normally between 20 per cent and 70 per cent) of the cost of buying new.

In addition, the lead times involved in reconditioning are much shorter than producing new replacement versions.

Reconditioning typically includes the polishing and regrinding of raceways, the removal of any fretting corrosion, re-greasing, new rolling elements, cage replacement or the remanufacture of bore diameters and internal clearance.

Often, the reconditioned bearing is given the same warranty as a new replacement bearing.

Reconditioning is also available for Schaeffler-produced bearings, as well as bearings from other manufacturers.

In many cases, the bearings can be restored to a completely acceptable, functionally reliable condition using appropriate cleaning and repair techniques.

Applications include bearings used in steel and aluminium rolling mills, papermaking machinery, mining and quarrying machines, mineral processing equipment, the wind energy sector and in shipbuilding.

On the condition monitoring side, Schaeffler offers all the necessary tools and equipment for prolonging the life of rolling bearings.

These include: handheld infrared thermometers; battery-operated and handheld vibration monitoring devices and balancing tools; and a range of online condition monitoring systems, such as specific systems for monitoring the condition of drive-train components on a wind turbine.

Alignment tools can also help to prolong the life of production equipment and machines that use rolling bearings.

Schaeffler offers a range of alignment and tensioning tools for belt pulleys and chain sprockets, as well as shaft alignment systems for motors, pumps, ventilators and gearboxes.

The reliable, controlled supply of lubrication to a rolling bearing is also important and can extend the maintenance interval and maximise the life of the rolling bearing, according to the company.

Schaeffler also provides a range of automatic lubricators and multi-bearing lubrication systems to suit a number of applications.

The correct mounting and dismounting of rolling bearings can save time, improve bearing life and minimise the downtime of machines.

Here, thermal mounting and dismounting tools can be used, including heating plates, induction heating devices, mounting paste, heating rings, feeler gauges, hydraulic extractors, hydraulic nuts and hand pump sets.

These can be used to ensure that bearings are mounted and removed easily and quickly, without causing damage to the bearings.

Other News:
Schaeffler Offers Rolling-bearing Services
SKF Relocates UK Bearings Unit to Italy
KGJS's Kongsberg Bearing Wear Monitoring System for SKS Newbuildings
NTN Corporation - Financial and Operations Review - Companies and Markets New Analysis
GreaseMax Solves Electric Motor Lubrication Issues
Ceramic Bearing Constructions from GLYNWED Brings New Possibilities
Rulmentul Brasov Asset Sale Canceled Again
Igubal Plastic Bearings Increase System Durability