Within the framework of NSK’s AIP programme (Added Value Programme), which is offered as a service to bearing users, company experts inspected the failed bearings and performed an application review at the frozen pizza plant.
The team determined that the damage was mainly due to frequent cleaning of the production line using water. This process was causing damage to the bearing seals, as well as corrosion of the rolling elements and raceways. Moreover, lubricant was being washed out of the bearings due to water penetration.
To remedy the situation, NSK recommended replacing the existing standard bearings with Moulded-Oil bearings made of stainless steel. NSK’s Moulded-Oil bearings are ideal for applications in food plants.
Not only do they prevent the ingress of contaminants such as water and particulates, but no lubricant can escape the bearing and enter other parts of the machine, where it could potentially contact food.
Moulded-Oil bearings are equipped with a proprietary oil-impregnated material that consists of lubricating oil and a polyolefin resin with an affinity for oil.
This carrier material releases the lubricant continuously over a long period. The operating environment is therefore kept clean as no grease is released and no oil refilling is needed.
As a rule of thumb, in applications where the operating environment is moist and dust-contaminated, the service life of Moulded-Oil bearings is more than twice that of bearings with conventional grease lubrication.
After the bearings were installed at the pizza plant, there were no more failures for a whole year. In the cost analysis for the upgrade, the only cost item was the one-time investment in Moulded-Oil bearings.
As a result, the previous costs associated with bearing replacement, maintenance and lubrication have been eliminated, providing the plant with annual savings moving forward of €15,360.
For more information, visit 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
