Here we take a look at trends within the bearing space for 2023. Chris Johnson, managing director of specialist bearing supplier, SMB Bearings, shares his insights on what he sees developing over the course of the year. What value-add services, … [Read more...] about Q&A with SMB Bearings
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Common pitfalls of ceramic bearings
The concept behind bearings is simple — things roll better than they slide. The type of bearing used is of the utmost importance; whilst steel bearings are standard, well-built ceramic bearings can last two to three times longer than their steel … [Read more...] about Common pitfalls of ceramic bearings
Should remanufactured bearings become the norm?
According to SKF, it takes approximately 100 process steps to produce a new bearing, compared to roughly ten for a remanufactured bearing. It’s no surprise, therefore, that there has been an increasing demand for remanufactured bearings in heavy-duty … [Read more...] about Should remanufactured bearings become the norm?
When bearing relubrication is not a DIY job
If you are changing the bearings on a skateboard, you can do it in your garage with a pair of tweezers. For many applications though, the process of relubrication requires precision, expertise, and sophisticated technology. Here, Chris Johnson, … [Read more...] about When bearing relubrication is not a DIY job
From farm to fork: The role of bearings in the food and beverage supply chain
From the London Beer Flood of 1814 to the Tapioca Tanker Disaster of 1972, there has been a host of high-profile food and beverage disasters at all stages of the food processing chain. While innovative new technologies have been vital in continuing … [Read more...] about From farm to fork: The role of bearings in the food and beverage supply chain
Condition monitoring methods for better bearing performance
It is estimated that bearing faults account for around half of all failures in electric machines. The consequences of failure can result in unplanned downtime, machine breakdowns, equipment damage, and financial losses. To prevent this and ensure … [Read more...] about Condition monitoring methods for better bearing performance
Energy-efficient bearing design from SMB
It is estimated that a 10% reduction of friction in all large bearings in use would provide an energy-saving equal to the output of 18 large power stations. Cutting friction in bearings of any size is a key method to improve energy efficiency. Here … [Read more...] about Energy-efficient bearing design from SMB
Navigating the global bearing shortage
In March 2021, a huge container ship wedged across the Suez Canal caused severe disruption to global supply chains. According to one estimate, the blockage held up an estimated 9.6 billion of trade every day. For businesses that rely on global supply … [Read more...] about Navigating the global bearing shortage
What makes a high-quality underwater bearing?
There is a common misconception that all corrosion-resistant bearings are suitable for underwater use, but this is not the case. Underwater robots, drones, propeller shafts, and submerged conveyors all require application-specific design … [Read more...] about What makes a high-quality underwater bearing?
How can blockchain transform the bearing supply chain?
In 2019, NSK reported the seizure of counterfeit NSK packaging and labels in Hebei Province, China. During the seizure, more than 23,000 fake boxes and cartons were discovered in Linxi County, Xintai City. With bearing counterfeiting seemingly on the … [Read more...] about How can blockchain transform the bearing supply chain?
