NSK extends the service life of its wheelset bearings for new Intercity Express Programme trains
NSK bearings have been fitted to the first batch of Hitachi trains and are set to play a vital role in ensuring the trains built for the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) meet targets for minimum maintenance, high reliability and extended service life. Based on designs that have delivered in terms of performance and safety on the advanced high-speed Shinkansen trains in Japan, the NSK wheelset bearings have been engineered to match the operating life of the wheels themselves, which is over 1 million miles.
Tony Synnott, NSK European Railway Sector Manager based at the NSK factory in Newark, Nottinghamshire comments on the work done so far to achieve the lifecycle targets.
‘Put simply, the wheelset bearings are the interface between the static parts of a train’s undercarriage and the rotating parts, including the power transmission and wheels. Their performance and reliability are essential to the continued running of the train. What we have done with this project is to adapt some of the aspects of the designs which have worked extremely well in Japan and extend the maintenance requirements to coincide with wheel maintenance, thereby guaranteeing performance, while increasing train availability.’
‘The working environment is extremely tough for these double-row taper rolling bearings, with high loads and lots of potential external contaminants present, plus temperature differentials and constant vibration. The steel we use to manufacture the races for example has been developed by NSK purely for extended life in bearings used for extreme conditions. The sealing arrangement and materials are also critical to keeping the grease fresh inside and other elements out. The lubricant we are using is of the highest quality and formulated specifically for this application.’
Agility Trains, supplied by Hitachi Rail Europe will provide 122 new electric and bi-mode trains, for both the Great Western Main Line and the East Coast Main Line, manufactured in a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the Northeast of England. The remaining trains will be manufactured for service between 2016 and 2018.
‘Life Cycle Costing (LCC) is very important to Hitachi. The bearings will run for a six year period and be re-lubricated just once, coinciding with wheel maintenance. This equates to over 1million miles of operation. Bearing maintenance in the past was conducted prior to the wheel maintenance, which meant removing the wheel twice. By synchronising with the maintenance period of the wheel we can reduce maintenance time and avoid additional assembly and disassembly work, which is tough on components, some of which are press-fit items.’
There is a 30 year commitment from NSK to Hitachi and Agility Trains in order to deliver this project, incorporating 27 years of contractual service support in addition to the development, test and build process. Since NSK will be celebrating its 100th year anniversary in 2016 it is well placed to instil confidence as a long-term project supplier.
What are the key drivers to the rail market worldwide?
Firstly, it is worth confirming that investment in rail networks globally is increasing and this is helping provide manufacturers with the confidence to invest in developing new trains with more advanced propulsion systems.
Cost of operations, reliability and reduced environmental impact are dominating the political, practical and technological decisions that are being made now. The Intercity Express Programme (IEP) project in the UK is a good representation of what we can see happening in other territories, electrification is increasing for both inner city and inter-city rail transport solutions, however dual-power is also very important to bridge the gap between electrification projects and provide back-up power in operation.
Where is the investment going in terms of power transmission technology?
Since the push towards fuel efficiency and reduced emissions is leading towards electrification, technology investment is being directed towards managing dual-power changeover control to ensure it is smooth and efficient. Work is also being done on making the electric motors as powerful and compact as possible, much in the same way as hybridisation is happening in passenger cars and other road vehicles.
Ensuring long service life and ultimate reliability for the wheel and traction motor bearings – another component NSK supplies worldwide, is absolutely vital for both the manufacturers and the operators who are responsible for the maintenance and support of the trains in operation on long contracts.
The profitability of a project as a whole can be dependent on the train’s reliability and for the operators who are demanding reliability there is pressure to hit their own targets for on-time on-schedule journeys. For example, NSK supplies a large proportion of the London Underground trains with traction motor bearings, designed to deliver the ultimate in reliability.
Where do you see the future of train technology heading?
In two words; reliability and efficiency. Bearings are responsible for the reliability and efficiency of a great many components in a modern train, not least the wheels and electric drive motors; this covers many ancillary components from pumps and compressors to actuators and air conditioning units.
We are working on reducing the rolling resistance of many bearings, particularly in vehicle applications where any reduction provides a corresponding boost in fuel efficiency; we are also looking at reducing noise and delivering sealed-for-life products that provide the ultimate in terms of zero maintenance throughout the design life of the component.
Helena Measham,
Customer Service & Marketing Communications Manager
NSK UK Ltd, Northern Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 2JF, UK
Tel: 0500 2327464 Fax:
Web: www.nskeurope.com
Email: info-uk@nsk.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.
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