In the world of bearings, precision isn’t preference. It’s necessity.
Bearings and bushings work tirelessly to ensure efficiency and reliability, pushing your machinery to its maximum potential. However, finding the right pick can be tricky.
While standard bearings have their place, there is growing recognition and demand for custom-made components. Industrial environments rarely operate under ‘standard’ conditions. From heavy loads to extreme temperatures and high speeds, there are unique demands on machinery.
In this article, we explore the call for custom.
The call to finding the perfect fit for your application.
What are Custom Bearings?
Custom bearings are bearings specifically designed and manufactured to meet your exact requirements. They take into account your operating environment and performance goals, their design centered on the equipment itself.
The process of creating a custom-made bearing involves deep understanding of load capacities, material compositions, lubrication requirements, operation temperatures and environmental resistance (corrosion, dust, moisture).
With these in mind, engineers are able to create purpose-built components.
Why Custom Bearings Matter
Standard bearings seem like a quick and simple solution.
However, when standard bearings are forced on to a specialised role, compromises are inevitable. Your machinery might experience increased wear, reduced efficiency and more frequent maintenance.
Nobody appreciates unexpected downtime.
Reliability is critical in any industry and trust us: having custom-made bearings can make all the difference!
What is considered in the Custom Bearing process?
With over 50 years of experience and German-rooted experience, the SBS team is well-versed with the custom bearing process. We create custom-made parts and designs according to your requirements and drawings.
Material selection is crucial to bearing performance and lifespan.
Our custom process selects from a large range of materials, each with distinctive purposes and unique benefits.
This involves analysing and understanding the requirements of your operating environment. Factors to look out for include contaminants (debris, dust), moisture and/or corrosive substances.
Engineering custom bearings also considers maintenance requirements. A smart bearing choice establishes the type and magnitude of load the bearing will encounter. A core consideration involves ensuring the bearing has sufficient load capacity for its application.
Here are two SBS examples.
The SBS LUB-MET® is maintenance-free and crafted with solid bronze and solid lubricant. This makes it highly suited for environments where greasing is impractical such as underwater. It is also a great pick for high temperature operational requirements, with heat resistance reaching 250°C.
Befitting industrial applications for the LUB-MET® include cranes, mining & construction machinery, steel plants, and machinery in the offshore & marine, hydro power & hydro mechanical industry!
SBS’s COM-KU®/D, while also being maintenance-free, features fibre-reinforced plastic composite. This material boasts great sliding properties, a long lifespan, good chemical resistance and upstanding damping features. It is also highly recommended as a replacement for lubricated bushings, such as bronze.
By integrating advanced composite material into systems, the COM-KU®/D can contribute to meaningful efforts supporting global sustainable energy solutions. All whilst enhancing performance and reducing need for maintenance.
View more materials here: (link to SBS’s Bearing Catalogue from Home Page)
When examining bearing suitability, your needs should come first.
Collaboration: The Key to Custom Success
One of the most valuable aspects of custom bearing creation is the collaborative process. Engineers work closely with clients to understand the full scope of application.
At SBS, we are your technical partner, providing support from initial design through production, delivery and installation. The SBS team delivers both qualitative and quantitative insights, diving into real metrics, completion times, variation occurrences and more.
Read more about SBS’s above and beyond service here: https://sbs-bearings.com/blog/above-and-beyond-sbs-bearings#more-9811
Interested but not sure where to start?
Don’t ignore the call for custom. Collaborate with SBS today.
Email info@sbs-bearings.com.sg for more information or call +65-6316 3850 to find out what we can do for you!
