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 […]
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 […]
Selecting the right bearings for ultra-high vacuum chambers
Contamination in a vacuum chamber can result in dangerous chemical reactions and unwanted side effects. The Princeton University Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) highlights that vacuum work can lead to implosions and potential dangers of airborne contaminants, glass, chemicals splattering, and fire. Here, Chris Johnson, managing director at specialist bearing supplier SMB Bearings, […]
Enhancing industrial drone operations
The integration of drones in manufacturing is on the cusp of a significant transformation. Commercial and private deployment of airborne drones is revolutionizing many industries, and the global commercial market is expected to reach an impressive £15 billion. Here, Chris Johnson, managing director at SMB Bearings explains why precision bearings will play a pivotal role […]
Weighing up the hybrid bearing debate
The best cyclists have a very special mindset, which allows them to focus on the bike and the road, without distraction, ignoring tailwind, overlooking the rain, appreciating the uphill. These escapes from reality are often beneficial, but there are some misconceptions in cycling that aren’t as helpful. Here Chris Johnson, managing director of bike bearings […]
Lowering vehicle emissions with specialist bearings
According to McKinsey & Company’s Lightweight, heavy impact report, the use of lighter materials in the latest aircraft and automobile designs will be essential to reducing the CO2 emissions these vehicles produce. But lightweighting presents design and cost challenges, as well as sustainability advantages, for manufacturers. To overcome these, here, Chris Johnson, managing director at […]
Making industrial furnaces more energy-efficient
Even as countries strive to meet climate goals and reduce their carbon footprint, the current rate of improvement is not sufficient to meet the targets set out by the Paris Agreement. With industrial furnaces being one of the biggest energy consumers, it’s no surprise that manufacturers are investing in research and development to create more […]
Bearings for marine environments
Subsea applications are characterized by constantly harsh conditions and extreme environments. In marine environments, various applications involve propeller shafts and components for underwater robots and telecommunication systems. However, in the presence of water, salt, and harsh elements, selecting just any bearing won’t suffice — it’s crucial to choose the right one for optimal performance and […]
Bearings for improved patient safety
Precision bearings are among critical components in medical devices that are vital to ensuring patient safety. Yet, according to the 2022 Recall Index by Sedgewick, medical device recalls have reached a record number over the last three years, with safety issues being the top reason. Here, Chris Johnson, managing director at specialist bearing supplier SMB […]
SMB Bearings: bearings in space
“Space is a risky business,” once said Aaron Cohen, the Acting Deputy Administrator of NASA. “I always considered every launch a barely controlled explosion.” With several new space projects expected in the near future, these risks must be avoided at all costs. This puts a greater onus on engineers to create high-performing components that can […]
Common pitfalls of ceramic bearings
The concept behind bearings is simple — things roll better than they slide. The type of bearing used is of the utmost importance; whilst steel bearings are standard, well-built ceramic bearings can last two to three times longer than their steel counterparts. With different bearings come different issues though. Here, Chris Johnson, managing director of […]
Should remanufactured bearings become the norm?
According to SKF, it takes approximately 100 process steps to produce a new bearing, compared to roughly ten for a remanufactured bearing. It’s no surprise, therefore, that there has been an increasing demand for remanufactured bearings in heavy-duty industrial applications. Here Chris Johnson, managing director at bearing relubrication specialist SMB Bearings, explores this attractive alternative […]
When bearing relubrication is not a DIY job
If you are changing the bearings on a skateboard, you can do it in your garage with a pair of tweezers. For many applications though, the process of relubrication requires precision, expertise, and sophisticated technology. Here, Chris Johnson, director of bearing relubrication specialist SMB Bearings, examines some of the specialist equipment you might find in […]
From farm to fork: The role of bearings in the food and beverage supply chain
From the London Beer Flood of 1814 to the Tapioca Tanker Disaster of 1972, there has been a host of high-profile food and beverage disasters at all stages of the food processing chain. While innovative new technologies have been vital in continuing to improve the safety of modern operations, one small mechanical component is indispensable […]
Condition monitoring methods for better bearing performance
It is estimated that bearing faults account for around half of all failures in electric machines. The consequences of failure can result in unplanned downtime, machine breakdowns, equipment damage, and financial losses. To prevent this and ensure consistent performance, effective bearing maintenance is essential. But, when a single machine can contain hundreds of bearings, how […]
Energy-efficient bearing design from SMB
It is estimated that a 10% reduction of friction in all large bearings in use would provide an energy-saving equal to the output of 18 large power stations. Cutting friction in bearings of any size is a key method to improve energy efficiency. Here Chris Johnson, managing director at miniature bearings supplier SMB Bearings explores […]
Navigating the global bearing shortage
In March 2021, a huge container ship wedged across the Suez Canal caused severe disruption to global supply chains. According to one estimate, the blockage held up an estimated 9.6 billion of trade every day. For businesses that rely on global supply chains, a single event like this can wreak havoc. When multiple factors converge, […]
What makes a high-quality underwater bearing?
There is a common misconception that all corrosion-resistant bearings are suitable for underwater use, but this is not the case. Underwater robots, drones, propeller shafts, and submerged conveyors all require application-specific design considerations and specialist bearings. Here Chris Johnson, managing director at underwater bearing supplier SMB Bearings, investigates which bearing materials are suitable for underwater […]
How can blockchain transform the bearing supply chain?
In 2019, NSK reported the seizure of counterfeit NSK packaging and labels in Hebei Province, China. During the seizure, more than 23,000 fake boxes and cartons were discovered in Linxi County, Xintai City. With bearing counterfeiting seemingly on the rise, how can we combat the risks of this damaging practice? Here Chris Johnson, managing director […]
Are plastic bearings fit for high load applications?
Steel has long reigned supreme in the bearing world, but thanks to advances in material science, plastic bearings have evolved well beyond the standard injection-molded nylon bearings of times gone by. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), along with high-performance polymers, offer wider possibilities than ever before. But are they suitable for […]
Resolving the global semiconductor shortage
According to Deloitte, we can expect the global shortage of semiconductor chips to continue well into 2022 as supply catches up with rising demand. Manufacturing these highly sought-after chips requires very precise manufacturing conditions where noise, vibration, and dust are kept to a minimum. Here, Chris Johnson, managing director at specialist bearings supplier SMB Bearings, […]
Ceramic bearings fit for the world’s toughest rowing race
Ceramic Bearing specialist SMB Bearings is sponsoring rowing team, Five in a Row, as they take on this year’s Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. The challenge sees over 30 teams of rowers travel west from La Gomera in the Canary Islands, to English Harbour in Antigua & Barbuda. Departing in December 2021, the team will row […]
Keeping vibration analysis happy
Implementing condition monitoring can reduce the frequency and cost of equipment maintenance. Specifically, vibration analysis can provide valuable insight into machine conditions, flagging up problems before extensive damage occurs. Chris Johnson, managing director of ball bearing supplier SMB Bearings, explains the steps machine builders should take to reduce the likelihood of bearings being the root […]
The top five challenges of relubricating bearings
A car owner’s worst nightmare is accidentally filling their tank with diesel when their car runs on petrol. A fuel mix-up can be very damaging and costly, not to mention embarrassing. The same can be applied to being selective when designing machinery, particularly when choosing your bearings. Here, Chris Johnson, managing director of bearing relubrication […]