Energy saving bearings
Published: 19 April, 2007
SKF has developed a new range of bearings that it says can reduce energy consumption by at least 30% compared to standard ISO products. This new bearing family comprises the two bearing types that are the most used bearings in the world, deep groove ball bearings and tapered roller bearings.
"This new family of bearings is the result of a focused effort from the SKF organizations to develop a new bearing family that while maintaining the service life and load carrying capacity of standard ISO bearings, will substantially reduce the energy consumption", says Tom Johnstone, President and CEO of SKF. Manufacturing will start in the second half of 2007.
The demonstration of the potential of these bearings on the reduction of energy consumption of machinery is supported by the European Commission's LIFE-Environment programme 2006. This programme supports new methods and techniques for dealing with a wide range of environmental problems.
This bearing will deliver energy savings on average of at least 30% and will initially target industrial segments where applications exceed 1 MW power consumption. Such applications are in railway and transmissions in heavy industry, ships, wind energy, conveyors, and extruders. The initial size range will be 200 - 600 mm outside diameter and the first applications are expected to be in wind turbines.
For further information please visit: www.skf.co.uk
