A large bakery has replaced the type of bearings used in its cake-cutting machines after experiencing repeat failures on the integral blade saw pulleys. The switch to NSK Moulded-Oil bearings immediately reduced maintenance costs and increased productivity, leading to total savings of approximately €9400 a year.
With around 20 bearing sets (40 individual bearings) being replaced annually, the bakery turned to NSK for a solution to its problem. NSK engineers commenced an application review as part of the company’s AIP Added Value Programme, concluding that the failures were caused by the ingress of hard water and particulates
In many food processing machines, bearings are exposed to challenging conditions, such as frequent wash-out with water, steam and/or high-pressure water jets. To help combat these threats, NSK recommended replacing the standard bearings on the bakery’s cake-cutting machines with Moulded-Oil units (ball bearing types).
A trial was implemented under supervision by NSK and, since commissioning, bearing failures have reduced significantly. In fact, the NSK bearings are providing extended life to 26 weeks (six months), an improvement of some four-to-six times in comparison with the standard bearings.
NSK’s Moulded-Oil bearings (stainless steel variant) are ideal for applications in food and beverage 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 conceivably 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.
To provide an indication of the savings achieved, the bakery previously required a high number of man hours to replace its failed standard bearings, while there would also be extended downtime for the cake-cutting machines, leading to a loss of production.
Taking into account factors such as bearing costs, labour costs, lost man hours, and blade and shaft replacement, annual savings for the bakery as a result of adopting NSK Moulded-Oil bearings have been calculated at €9324.
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.
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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
