PWE October 2021

Focus on: Seals, Bearings & Lubrication Process, Controls & Plant refurbishment is called upon. This will include the previous actions in addition to one or more of the following: replacing rolling elements, remanufacturing the bearing’s cage, replacing components like seals and snap rings, grinding or polishing and plating mounting surfaces and polishing raceways. Remanufacturing is the final set of services including grinding, installing a new ring and modifying the component. At this stage, engineers can opt to improve the performance or properties of the original bearing to increase operational efficiency and decrease future maintenance interventions. Upgrade possibilities include adding features such as black oxidation or incorporating additional sensor functions for condition monitoring. Cost saving benefits Large bearings such as spherical roller bearings, deep groove ball bearings, tapered roller bearings, caster bearings and slewing bearings are good candidates for remanufacturing. Consider this as an example. If a large industrial bearing in a pumping system failed unexpectedly before the end of its service life, remanufacturing could increase the life cycle of the bearing by more than 50% and provide up to 60% savings compared to the cost of a new bearing. In this scenario, the advantages of remanufacturing are undeniable. In contrast, for smaller bearings, it is not considered cost effective. But, depending on the condition, complexity, price and application of larger bearings, remanufacturing may offer a favourable cost-benefit. That being said, smaller bearings can benefit from services such as re- lubrication, which can extend a bearing’s service life and improve operational performance at an affordable price point. Similarly, re-lubrication is important if you want to take old, healthy bearings and use them for another application. This kind of smart recycling can save businesses money compared with continually buying new bearings. Environmental sustainability Improved performance characteristics is not however the only advantage. Remanufacturing bearings has a positive impact on the environment too, as it reduces the unwanted use of natural resources and the disposal of components when they become damaged or fail. Instead of the make-use-dispose industrial model, remanufacturing feeds into the circular economy model by recovering and regenerating products and materials. The energy requirement for remanufacturing is as low as 90 per cent when compared to the production of a new bearing. It also minimises the need for new raw material, and therefore can also offer quicker manufacturing turn around. For specialised industrial bearings, it could take weeks for a replacement to arrive. On the contrary, remanufacturing can reduce lead times significantly, increasing machine up time and profit. Remanufacturing also allows facilities to maintain better machine availability and reduce stock. While not all bearings are suitable for remanufacture, in many instances this is an economically viable route that extends a bearing’s service life, reduces maintenance costs and supports sustainability. Re-lubrication on the other hand, is arguably a good middle ground for most bearing types, and should be considered if old bearings are healthy, but are no longer required for their original application. *Chris Johnson is managing director at SMB Bearings Join us on Facebook Plant &Works Engineering Follow us on LinkedIn Plant &Works Engineering Followus on Twitter @PWEmagazine1 @PlantAssetMgt For the latest news visit the PWE website www.pwemag.co.uk Find out the latest on Plant &Asset Management 2022 www.maintenanceuk-expo.com PWE Plant & Works Engineering Plant & Asset Management 2022