by grinding , installing a new ring and modifying it . At this point , engineers have the option to enhance the performance or characteristics of the initial bearing , which can lead to increased operational efficiency and reduced maintenance requirements in the future . Upgrades may include the addition of features such as black oxidation , or the incorporation of extra sensor functions for condition monitoring .
Economic benefits Replacing a worn bearing can be costly and , in many cases , remanufacturing can provide significant cost savings . For example , if a large industrial bearing in a pumping system fails unexpectedly before the end of its service life , remanufacturing could increase the life cycle of the bearing by more than 50 per cent , and provide up to 60 per cent savings compared to the cost of a new bearing .
Smaller bearings , like miniature bearings , may not be cost-effective to remanufacture . This is due to the cost of disassembling , cleaning , inspecting , and reassembling the bearing , which may be higher than the cost of simply replacing the bearing with a new one . Additionally , the amount of wear and damage that can be repaired on small bearings may be limited ,
making remanufacturing less practical for these components .
Remanufacturing larger bearings , on the other hand , offers a favourable cost-benefit depending on their condition , complexity , price and application . Large bearings – such as spherical roller bearings , deep groove ball bearings , tapered roller bearings , caster bearings and slewing bearings – are good candidates for remanufacturing .
Additionally , relubrication services , like those offered by the bearing relubrication specialist SMB Bearings , can extend a bearing ’ s service life and improve operational performance at an affordable price point . Indeed , relubrication is crucial if you intend to repurpose old-yet-healthy bearings for a different application . By doing so , businesses can save money as opposed to repeatedly purchasing new bearings , which makes it a smart and efficient form of recycling .
Remanufacturing can also reduce lead times significantly , increasing machine uptime and profit . It can normally take weeks for a replacement specialised industrial bearing to arrive . In contrast , remanufacturing can reduce lead times and allows facilities to maintain better machine availability and reduce stock
Environmental considerations Aside from the economic benefits , bearing remanufacturing also has a positive impact on the environment . The process reduces the unwanted use of natural resources and the disposal of components when they become damaged or fail . Remanufacturing feeds into the circular economy model by recovering and regenerating products and materials , unlike the traditional make-use-dispose industrial model .
The energy requirement for remanufacturing is also as low as 90 per cent when compared to the production of a new bearing , which minimises the need for new raw materials and offers quicker manufacturing turnaround times . Additionally , remanufacturing can help reduce the carbon footprint associated with producing new bearings . Finally , remanufacturing can also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation , as remanufactured bearings can often be sourced locally rather than being shipped from far-off locations .
After the remanufacturing process has been carried out , it ’ s crucial to avoid the recurrence of the damage that affected the bearing before it was remanufactured . Condition monitoring techniques , including vibration analysis , can be implemented to monitor the continual status of the components .
It ’ s clear that remanufactured bearings offer a cost-effective , environmentally friendly , and sustainable alternative to buying new bearings . As more businesses recognise these benefits , remanufactured bearings have the potential to become the norm in industries that rely heavily on bearings .
For more information about SMB Bearings ’ relubrication services or its range of miniature , stainless steel , ceramic and plastic bearings , visit the website .
For further information , please visit www . smbbearings . com
Issue 66 PECM 11