Solutions From Kilian Bearings – The Value Adds Up
Kilian Bearings is the global leader in the design and production of ball bearings, custom bearing assemblies, housed bearing units, pins and shafts, roller bearings, thrust bearings and track rollers, utilizing carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, bronze and many various types of polymers, plastics, nylons, acetals, elastomers, polyurethanes, rubber products, and more.
Value-Added Solutions
The solution files at Kilian Bearings headquarters in Syracuse, NY, are overflowing with examples of the firm’s design and production of custom engineered bearings and integrated unit assemblies. Here are just a couple examples of Kilian Solution Stories:
Mini-Excavator Foot Pedal Assembly
A major construction equipment manufacturer had a foot pedal assembly on a mini-excavator that was continually failing. A lever on the assembly featured a bushing inside a casting with two O-rings that continually wore down. Excessive clearance in the assembly was causing the lever to slip, resulting in a loss of vehicle control. This created a huge warranty issue with lost time and cost to replace the bushing systems in the field.
When the manufacturer called Kilian for a solution, Kilian engineers proposed a customized bearing solution to replace the O-ring design. Using precision bearing and casting sources developed over many years, Kilian designed a precision bearing assembly that incorporated an internal stud in the casting. The new design minimized play in the system and resulted in a single, complete assembly that replaced eight separate components.
High-Volume Pallet Rack Bearing
A pallet rack manufacturer contacted Kilian because they were having serious delivery problems with their existing supplier. The manufacturer was using a high-cost, fully-ground precision bearing. To function properly, seven components needed to be assembled around the bearing, which added cost and time. Kilian engineers analyzed exactly how the bearing was being applied in the field and by asking detailed questions about how the bearing was attached and how it worked, they were able to design an alternative that saved time, money and delivered better value.
Kilian determined that the precision bearing the manufacturer was using was “overkill” and proposed a customized bearing that would be more appropriate for the material handling application. Kilian engineers then quickly designed a custom, unitized bearing that incorporated all the components into one piece, eliminating assembly time and the need to buy and inventory several different items. Because the new unitized bearing featured a single component instead of seven, the company reduced bearing costs by more than 50 percent.
Want More? Here’s Another…
Kilian helped a seating manufacturer for minivans devise a revolutionary bearing to work in a new, space-saving seating application, while adhering to strict, automotive industry quality standards.
And Another…
Kilian designed a precision track roller bearing to help RV manufacturers reduce downtime and warranty issues that were occurring in the field.
Value-Engineering Benefits
Kilian incorporates the benefits of value engineering into every product - from custom-designed assemblies to standard bearings. To write your own Kilian Solution Story, visit www.kilianbearings.com or call (315) 432-0700.