NSK’S promises cost savings with bearings campaign 04 August 2011

NSK's asset improvement programme (AIP), which offers a structured approach to bearing optimisation, can save significant costs, in terms of bearing replacement and plant downtime, according to the company.

AIP is designed to deliver real benefits in operating costs, efficiency and profitability by improving the health of equipment and machinery, but also by increasing the working knowledge of maintenance and engineering staff.

NSK says that, as part of its AIP programme, all aspects of a plant's operations, including systems, stock, specific problem applications, lubrication and training are audited.

That leads to recommendations for improvements, ranging from helping technicians, in terms of spotting failure modes and how to handle bearings correctly, to reviewing bearing lubrication procedures and recommending parts substitution.

NSK makes the point that rolling bearings subject to contamination may require replacement at a point in its life cycle that is a fraction of the life expectancy that could be achieved, if operating in a clean environment.

Citing the incidence of bearing failures in problem environments, such as food processing and sewage treatment, where machinery is hosed down or exposed to dust, dirt and assorted processed material, the firm suggests that engineers need to remember that bearings are precision engineered components with very small internal operating clearances.

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
NSK Europe Ltd

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