Maintenance and choosing the right bearings for severe environments are key to ensuring that bearings have a long service life. Emerson Bearing, a Boston, MA-based bearing company shares its expert knowledge and three complimentary guides to help Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) prevent industrial processes or machinery from experiencing downtime. […]
New rudder bearing fitted to 253-ft research ship
Thordon Bearings, the pioneer in water-lubricated bearings, secured a new order for a rudder bearing that was fitted to a 77.1m (253-ft) research ship that frequently operates in ecologically sensitive marine environments. The order underscores the value of Thordon’s grease-free bearing and seal solutions in helping to keep oceans and seas clean. The 38-year-old Ocean […]
Ceramic bearings for medical robots
Robots are on the rise in medical environments and are being increasingly relied upon to carry out more complex procedures. Although martensitic stainless steels have been favored for bearings in robot applications, their performance is falling short against rising standards to prevent contamination in medical environments. Here, Chris Johnson, managing director at specialist ceramic bearings […]
igus unveils AI-driven solutions for Industry 4.0 at Hannover Messe
Getting customer applications ready for sustainable Industry 4.0: to this end, igus relies on AI-supported low-cost robotics, smart maintenance, and AI-based online tools such as the igusGO app, which shows the optimization potential of crane systems, for instance, in a matter of seconds. In a groundbreaking showcase at Hannover Messe 2024, igus is set to […]
New cylindrical roller bearings for heavy-duty industrial gearboxes and construction machinery
With the new cylindrical roller bearings of series NJ23-ILR, Schaeffler is introducing a series of rolling bearings for heavy-duty industrial gearboxes and construction machinery. The bearings feature a compact design, are equipped with the high-performance MPAX cage, and have a very high dynamic load capacity. The load rating has been increased by an average of […]
Vesconite Bearings innovates in the tractor tyre replacement market
Custom-made wear-resistant low-friction Vesconite bearings and wear pads are being trialed on a BEISS tire stripper machine by a company in the thriving tractor-tire-changing industry. The trial, conducted in Bultfontein, South Africa, at a company that specializes in tractor-tire stripping and replacement, aims to prove the efficiency and durability of Vesconite in tractor-tire maintenance. The […]
igus launches iglide i230 3D printing material for high-temperature applications
During SLS, a printer melts plastic powder layer by layer to form bearings and other components. However, parts made from standard SLS printing materials — such as PA (nylon) 12 — are generally limited to applications less than 80°C. Higher temperatures cause the material to become soft and lose dimensional stability, preventing SLS-printed components from […]
SKF joins new research and innovation project aiming to eliminate Greenhouse gas emissions
SKF has decided to join and co-fund Mission 0 to contribute to the development of groundbreaking technologies and deliver solutions to eliminate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in materials, production, and end-of-life of passenger cars. In an initial pilot project, SKF will collaborate with academia and industry experts in a research arena to solve GHG emissions […]
Larger plate sizes in the works with strategic investments
Vesconite Bearings is expanding its manufacturing capabilities to meet the increasing demand for larger low-friction wear plates. Responding to customer feedback and market trends, Vesconite Bearings is making a substantial investment in additional equipment to produce wear plates of unprecedented sizes, notes CEO Dr Jean-Patrick Leger. The company aims to introduce 8 x 4-ft (2,44 […]
Revolutionizing testing with bearings
The Automated Test Equipment (ATE) market, valued at USD 8.5 billion in 2022, is poised for an impressive surge with a 10% CAGR (2023-2032) propelled by the global shift towards vehicle electrification. ATE, the cornerstone of precision testing, relies fundamentally on industrial bearings. Here, Chris Johnson, managing director at specialist bearing supplier SMB Bearings, explains […]
Wind vanes repaired with Vesconite Hilube
When boating aficionado Roy McBride decided to develop repair kits for the Aries Wind Vane, he chose Vesconite Hilube for the bearings. Aries Wind Vane self-operating steering systems are robust and can operate for 30,000 miles from purchase. When they need to be repaired, however, it is often only the PTFE bearings that need to […]
Thordon Bearings polymer bearing technology for Vietnamese hydropower market
Thordon Bearings pioneering polymer bearing technology is gaining traction in Vietnam’s hydropower market, following the performance success of its self-lubricating bearings retrofitted to five turbines at the Son La Hydropower plant. Thordon’s wicket gate and linkage bearings have been in continuous use for four years and were installed when the company was asked to provide […]
Full ceramic radial bearings for extreme environment applications
The XTREME 6000 ZrO2 Series of Full Ceramic Radial Bearings from CeramicSpeed are designed to provide levels of performance in extreme environments beyond the capabilities of steel and even hybrid bearings. The complementing components of these bearings were carefully selected to provide the highest levels of performance in high temperatures, and adverse environments such as: […]
Why bearings will be essential to Agriculture 4.0
According to the European Commission (EC), “The digitalization of the European agricultural sector has the potential to revolutionize the industry, promoting efficiency, sustainability and competitiveness”. New technologies, including smart actuators and intelligent sensors, will be vital to Agriculture 4.0 and ‘precision agriculture’. But a vital component in these technologies mustn’t be overlooked: bearings. Here, Chris […]
Flying towards sustainability
According to Deloitte, “the demand for sustainability, product innovations, and wartime defense is expected to result in rapid technological evolution” in the aerospace and defense (A&D) industry”. Innovations like electric propulsion systems and more precise manufacturing will be crucial. Here, Chris Johnson, managing director at specialist bearing supplier SMB Bearings, explains why industrial bearings will […]
New igus Smart Fixed flange bearings unlock predictive maintenance
Constructed from self-lubricating, high-performance plastic, the bearings feature an integrated abrasion sensor, thin circuit board, and cableless battery supply. Wear interrupts the board’s conductor paths, causing the electronics to lose the signal. The sensor then transmits a long-range network signal to an igus i.Cee switch cabinet module for analysis, including the percentage of abrasion. Over […]
New IKO cam followers allow mounting freedom in tight spaces
IKO International is pleased to introduce its CFC…B Series of short stud-type cam followers. These new cam followers have a unique mounting structure that solves space limitations that often exist on the stud side of the assembly region, thereby satisfying mounting requirements without sacrificing performance. The CFC…B cam follower’s mounting structure consists of a hexagon […]
Tailshaft seals on a twin-screw passenger vessel
Leading water-lubricated bearings and seals innovator Thordon Bearings has completed the installation of its award-winning TG100 tailshaft seals on a twin-screw passenger vessel. The retrofit took place during a scheduled drydocking at a Chilean yard in October 2023 and is the Canadian company’s first TG100 reference aboard a Chilean-operated vessel. The 17.5m (57ft), 40-person capacity […]
New igus Smart Fixed Flange Bearings unlock predictive maintenance
igus, a global manufacturer of motion plastics, has developed intelligent two- and four-hole fixed flange bearings with wireless sensing capabilities for wear detection, enabling condition monitoring and preventing costly machine breakdowns. Constructed from self-lubricating, high-performance plastic, the bearings feature an integrated abrasion sensor, thin circuit board, and cableless battery supply. Wear interrupts the board’s conductor […]
Vesconite Bearings launches dedicated jet-ski webstore for replacement pump sets
Vesconite Bearings, a global leader in high-performance bearing and wear part solutions, is thrilled to announce the launch of its new jet-ski webstore. The webstore can be accessed at https://www.vesconite.com/store/jetski/. The Vesconite jet-ski webstore offers a comprehensive range of replacement SeaDoo jet-ski pump sets, specifically designed to meet the needs of jet-ski owners and repairers. […]
AST rod ends
Rod ends consist of an eye-shaped head with integral shank forming a housing and a standard spherical plain bearing, or a spherical plain bearing inner ring, or a spherical plain bearing inner ring and a sliding layer between the bore of the head and the inner ring. As a rule, rod ends are available with […]
AST two bolt flanges
Bearings that are mounted within a flanged housing are used when the bearing mounting surface is perpendicular to a shaft axis. They are commonly available in two, three, or four-hole configurations. Two-bolt flanged ball bearing units have a diamond or winged-shape with 2 holes for mounting. As with our 3-bolt Flanged Bearing Units, 4-bolt Flanged […]
AST collar clamp ball bearings
Similar to the ER Series Insert Bearings, the Collar Clamp Ball Bearings are used to easily install a on a shaft with a simple set screw. Essentially, they are “miniature insert bearings” with bores starting at 3/16″ and going up to 1/2-in. AST offers them with and without snap rings to aid in mounting. The […]
Mechanical sub-assemblies from AST
AST goes beyond supplying standard bearings, we also provide precision mechanical sub-assemblies. We specialize in rotary assemblies that incorporate precision bearings and components manufactured to the most exacting specifications. AST can conduct design reviews and provide assemblies manufactured to your specifications or ours. Our highly skilled technicians know the correct way to handle and install […]
Vesconite Bearings invests in bright future
Vesconite Bearings, a global supplier of bearing and wear materials, is taking strides towards sustainability and environmental responsibility by implementing a comprehensive solar energy solution at its Free State-based factory in South Africa. The initiative, spearheaded by Factory Manager Robin Crabb and CEO Dr Jean-Patrick Leger, involves a significant investment in solar infrastructure to reduce […]