Dr. Stefan Spindler, a member of
Schaeffler’s Executive Board and
responsible for the company’s industrial
business states: “Our sales team comprises
of engineers all over the world, who work
with Schaeffler experts from a wide range
of disciplines, such as coating engineers
and calculation experts, which helps
them provide our customers with bearing
solutions for even the most challenging of
applications.”
Matteo Maretto, member of the
development team at Cimolai Technology,
developer of the mechanism for moving
the lock gates, agrees: “The bearings
are critical components for the overall
Bearings for resource-conserving
water cycle
Challenging Conditions
One important feature of the new Panama
describes the special challenges for
Canal is its three reservoirs that are located
bearing solutions for the Panama Canal:
next to each barrage. These ensure a
“The slow movement causes a quasi-static
during development.”
resource-conserving water cycle: several
load in the bearings with very high forces.”
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valves open in a channel below ground
to drain the water from a barrage. The
channel connects the water-conserving
basins and the barrage.
Due to the enormous size of the Hyundai
Samho valves (up to seven metres), the
valves are also designed as gates. The steel
guide pulleys for these gates are equipped
with Schaeffler bearings. These bearings
are chromium-plated, making them
particularly resistant to corrosion. Different
Schaeffler engineer Francesco Capittini
functioning of the locks. They must work
under any circumstances, otherwise the
entire facility would come to a standstill.
Schaeffler provided valuable support to us
Despite the harsh conditions
and demanding requirements
for technology in the expansion
of the Panama Canal, Schaeffler
was able to develop some
bearing solutions based on
standard products. The
international network of
engineers and application
specialists also implemented
project-specific solutions.
variants of Schaeffler’s Durotect coating
are used for this application.
In addition, the Panama
Canal must operate reliably
24/7 due to its significance
for world trade. Maintenance
intervals are scheduled only
once every five years.