Switch to NSK high-performance bearings saves nearly €140,000

When a UK-based company was experiencing constant bearing failures on an autoclave bogie wheel assembly, expert guidance from NSK was sought to resolve the issue. Bearings for autoclave bogie wheel assemblies need to withstand high loads On average, the customer was witnessing bearing failures on the 10 axles of the autoclave bogie wheel assembly every 2-3 weeks. To make matters worse, the failures of the deep groove ball bearings were resulting in damage to the surrounding hardware (housings and axles), which in turn would lead to high labour and parts costs as components needed regular replacement. NSK’s team of expert engineers performed a failed bearing analysis, during which it could be determined that the ingress of hard particulates and moisture, combined with excessive load, was the root cause of the premature bearing failures. Concluding its application review, NSK could clearly show that the original deep groove ball bearings were inadequate. In this regard, the engineering team recommended changing to NSKHPS high-performance spherical roller bearings, which offer a specification far more suited to the demanding operating environment. NSKHPS bearings are specifically designed to carry greater loads and operate at higher temperatures. With these attributes, users can achieve better service life and enhanced reliability, as the UK company soon discovered. As a result of making the switch to NSKHPS spherical roller bearings on its autoclave bogie wheel assembly, the need for ongoing maintenance has been totally eliminated, substantially reducing collateral damage to the surrounding components. In total, the customer has saved €138,382 in reduced bearing, maintenance and hardware costs. NSKHPS spherical roller bearings can carry greater loads and operate at higher temperatures About NSK Established 100 years ago, NSK (Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha) is a Japanese-listed company that has evolved from a regional ball bearing supplier to a roller bearing specialist and automotive supplier with a global market presence. Today, NSK employs more than 31860 employees in 30 countries. As per March 2018 NSK achieved a turnover of 1020 billion Yen. This result has been driven by ever-increasing investment in research & development, enabling the company to continuously improve the quality of its products and services. This investment supports NSK’s objective of “No. 1 in Total Quality”. In addition to acomplete rolling bearing portfolio, NSK develops and manufactures precision components and mechatronic products, as well as systems and components for the automotive industry, including wheel bearing units and electric power-steering systems. In 1963, NSK’s first European subsidiary, Düsseldorf, Germany, was opened and in 1976, the first European production facility in Peterlee, England. Today, NSK Europe supports pan-European sales with production locations in England, Poland and Germany, logistics centres in the Netherlands, Germany and England and technology centres in Germany, England and Poland. In 1990, NSK purchased the UPI Group including the renowned European bearing manufacturer RHP, with its factory in Newark (UK). Additionally, NSK has developed a comprehensive network of authorised sales distributors. NSK Europe is divided into application-based business divisions: Industry rolling bearing technologies & linear and precision technology (EIBU) as well as bearing modules and steering systems for the automotive industry (EABU & ESBU). In this organisation, NSK Europe\'s 3,900 employees achieved a turnover of over 1,056 million Euros as per March 2018. For more information, visit www.nskeurope.com