Steelworks increase their effectiveness with NSK innovations

Steel mills increase their effectiveness with NSK innovations Steel mills increase their effectiveness with NSK innovations New NSK work cylinder bearings significantly increase the service life of the product while reducing CO2 emissions and resource consumption

NSK Ltd. has developed a four-row sealed and greased bearing with water resistant grease. The inclemency that plagues the steelworks requires components capable of withstanding the challenging environmental conditions and contributing to contain costs and energy consumption. NSK's new work cylinder bearings in steelworks1 are more reliable and offer a longer service life.

NSK work cylinder bearings are sealed and greased with a newly designed grease that extends their service life, even in extreme conditions, such as contact with water. The new grease composition provides a thicker oily film and a protective layer between the gutters and the bearings. Grease additives also inhibit corrosion and improve service life in conditions where there is a risk that water will penetrate the bearing. A longer service life helps reduce maintenance costs and increases operational efficiency. In addition, by decreasing the need for replacements, CO2 emissions and resource consumption are also reduced.

1  Steel mills often use pairs of bearings to roll steel or other metal slabs to obtain specific shapes, such as sheets.

Background of the new development 

In addition to coping with extreme environmental conditions, work cylinder bearings carry heavy loads at high speed and temperature, and under constant exposure to water spray and metal particles. The severity of the conditions can cause premature bearing failures, such as the peeling that occurs when fatigue causes small parts of the bearing material to detach from the smooth surface of the raceways, creating rough and rough areas within the bearing that, In the long run, they make it useless. Failures can also result from oxidation and contact with the water used to cool, but that penetrates the bearing and can cause retentions. In an effort to increase reliability and ensure a long service life,

Newly sealed sealed bearings provide two advantages: the optimized internal design increases the load index; In addition, the improved design for sealing prevents water from entering the bearing, reducing grease contamination and improving bearing performance.

Thanks to these two significant improvements, the real-world tests validated the enormous progress achieved in terms of the service life of the bearings. For example, bearings in a steel mill are serving sixteen months of service, while traditional bearings typically last less than eight months.

Product benefits 

A longer service life is equivalent to greater operational reliability, less spare parts and less downtime for repair. In addition, a longer service life reduces the consumption of materials and energy (including CO2 emissions) in relation to the replacement cycles of conventional models.

NSK continues to develop and manufacture new products designed to materialize sustainable society. For more information, send a message to info@nsk-corp.com

Founded in 1916 with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, NSK is a manufacturer of movement and control products that enjoy international status. NSK produces and distributes a wide range of products for bearings, linear motion and automotive components for various industries and applications. 

NSK Corporation operates in the Americas, is part of the NSK Ltd. group and its headquarters are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. More information at www.nskamericas.com .

SOURCE NSK Americas