Condition Monitoring Service Saves Pump Manufacture €34,500
When a manufacturer of centrifugal pumps for water-treatment applications was developing a new high-speed design, it could not understand why test-rig trials indicated a higher running temperature than the original concept.
Duly concerned, the company contacted NSK, which sent an AIP+ (Added Value Programme) expert to the company´s site in France to perform a full vibration analysis.
NSK´s investigation, which was carried out as part of its Condition Monitoring Service (CMS) that analyses the health of bearings and associated components, saved the customer €34,500.
NSK´s CMS is a method to determine the condition of a machine´s internal components, such as bearings and gears, while the machine remains operating. The process comprises an initial survey using a scoring system to assess each machine and its suitability for CMS.
Modelling the machinery or system on the NSK analysis software then takes place to determine the optimum monitoring points. One-off or periodic analysis is subsequently performed, followed by data evaluation and reporting.
At the pump manufacturer, NSK´s CMS identified that the bearings on the prototype pump were actually in optimum condition with no reportable issues.
However, vibration analysis revealed that the origin of the unexplained temperature increase could in fact be attributed to a lubrication issue. This helped the customer to progress the project, using a new lubrication method for high-speed applications.
As part of the value proposal from NSK, the condition monitoring review undertaken at the customer´s site included all technical data, measurement conditions and explanations of spectrum analysis.
At the fixed trial running speed, it could be seen that the temperature started to increase rapidly, highlighting the potential lubrication issue.
This live assessment of a machine´s condition and health while it is still in operation enables NSK´s team of experts to predict the life of critical components, allowing the customer to better plan maintenance schedules. CMS is the most sensitive and comprehensive method of detecting the early signs of wear and associated issues.
At the centrifugal pump manufacturer, the CMS saved around six months of R&D costs, as well as test rig running costs, a sum calculated to be €34,500.
“The performance of the vibration analysis combined with the skills of NSK´s experts has led to an immediate and significant gain in a stalled development project,” says Mathieu Piquemal, NSK´s AIP & South Europe Services Manager, European Industrial Business Unit.
“Speed-to-market is essential for OEMs today, where designers and R&D engineers are under intense pressure to deliver next-generation solutions to a demanding customer base,” adds Mr Piquemal, who is also a MIBoC ISO18436-2 certified vibration analyst.
Along with operational costs savings and performance improvements, NSK provides the assurance that, as a full range supplier, it can help with the provision of critical bearing and linear motion spares if required.
NSK Deutschland GmbH
Harkortstrasse 15
40880 Ratingen
Germany
Marie-Dominique PILATH
Phone: +49 2102 4810
Fax: +49 2102 4812290
pilath-m@nsk.com
www.nskeurope.com
NSK Europe Ltd
- 01636 605 123
- info-uk@nsk.com
- Belmont Place, Belmont Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 6TB GB
About us
Established over 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 31,400 employees in 30 countries. As per March 2019, NSK achieved sales of 991,4 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 a complete 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 4,260 employees achieved a turnover of over 1,045 million Euros as per March 2019.
Where we supply to
Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, North America
Industries we supply to
Automation, Chemicals, Consultants, Components Electronics, Energy and Power, Food and Beverage, Glass Ceramics Cement, Metals and Minerals, OEM, Paper and Pulp, Pharmaceutical Cosmetics Toiletries, Plastics and Rubber, Recycling, Textiles, Tobacco, Water and Wastewater
