Bearing up to cement dust

NSK's cost saving Asset Improvement Programme has succeeded in solving a recurring problem of large bearing failures in a screw pump conveying system at a major cement works. Because of contamination, 27 bearings in one year were consumed by the screw pump system. NSK has reduced this by more than 50% with a solution based on Hi-TF bearings, at the same time reducing maintenance costs and improving reliability at the plant.

In addition to extending service life under conditions of boundary or contaminated lubrication, Hi-TF bearing steel is said to offer increased resistance to wear and seizure as a result of the dispersion of large number of fine carbides and nitrides in the bearing material.

The cement works has now converted other areas of its operations to Hi-TF bearings.