NSK´s expertise in solving issues for the worldwide steel industry is helping achieve savings of €372,555 per annum on a continuous annealing line thanks to the elimination of unplanned downtime resulting from failed bearings.
On average, the steel strip annealing line was enduring unplanned downtime of 17 hours per year, which for a process intended to be continuous proved extremely costly. Adding up the costs of production stoppages, the need to hire heavy lifting gear and the requirement for additional maintenance personnel, meant each lost hour was costed at €21,915.
To help eliminate the annual average downtime cost of €372,555, the global steelmaker called upon the services of NSK. Applying the company's AIP Added Value Programme, expert engineers performed analysis on the failed bearings and identified that both the bearing type and the sealing arrangement were inadequate for the application. Due to both contamination and lubrication issues, the ball bearings showed significant fatigue.
With the high load and low speed of the application in mind, it was recommended that the steel plant switch to NSK´s multi-row sealed cylindrical roller bearings (crane sheave bearings).
As the name implies, this bearing type is often employed in crane sheaves found in quarries, ports and construction sites. However, the high load capacity and advanced sealing of crane sheave bearings means they are also ideal for use in the demanding conditions that prevail in steelmaking environments.
On the steel strip annealing line, NSK´s machine design support prompted a revision to the housing so it could better accommodate the crane sheave bearing unit. Importantly for the steelmaker, NSK´s full complement cylindrical roller bearings offer an advanced system of contact seals that minimises grease leakage and increases resistance to the entry of water and other foreign substances.
In addition, the ability to provide reliable life in arduous environments is enhanced by machined holes that feature on the inner and outer rings of the bearings to allow the replenishment of lithium grease in situ. Re-lubrication holes facilitate easy maintenance and grease replenishment, while the provision of a phosphate surface treatment to improve corrosion resistance is a further benefit.
An initial trial of the bearings was undertaken on the annealing line to determine the effectiveness of NSK´s solution. Here, bearing condition analysis was performed mid-trial, revealing no signs of wear, while a post-trial review showed no significant bearing damage. In fact, the bearings were still in full operational condition after more than three years of service, completely eliminating the previous annual costs of €372,555.
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
