Schaeffler is significantly expanding its standard rolling bearing business by investing in new production and logistics capacities for its FAG Generation C deep groove ball bearings.
Over the coming months, Schaeffler will gradually bring new production lines into operation at its Yinchuan (China) location, doubling its manufacturing capacity for high volume FAG deep groove ball bearings. The most common applications for Generation C bearings are electric motors, household appliances, pumps, fans, electric power tools and two-wheeled vehicles.
“Our investments will help us satisfy the high level of demand for standard deep groove ball bearings, particularly from China and the Asia/Pacific region, and will help us meet the specific requirements of this high volume business in an optimum way. Our products meet the highest technical requirements while, at the same time, offer an excellent price-performance ratio,” explains Dr. Stefan Spindler, CEO Industrial at Schaeffler.
Schaeffler products continue to set benchmarks when it comes to important technical characteristics such as minimising friction and noise. Two new sealing concepts have also been developed. Reduced grease loss and better protection against contamination extend the grease operating life and therefore the operating life of the bearing. The new Z-type dust shield with its innovative labyrinth seal, helps to reduce grease loss by 20%, and reduces contamination by 30% compared to the previous design. The patented ELS lip seal (optional) provides maximum sealing at low friction and is particularly suitable for alternating axial loads, such as those found in the wheel bearings of motorcycles. This improved sealing, without any additional friction losses, is due to the innovative shape of the lip, which is perfectly matched to the ring recess. Furthermore, the recesses have now been moved to the interior of the bearing, significantly improving its robustness during handling and mounting.
The high quality of the balls and a noise-optimised cage enable Generation C bearings to run at significantly reduced noise levels compared to conventional deep groove ball bearings. Also, optimised osculation reduces friction. These characteristics can be attributed to numerous improvements to raceway parameters in terms of roundness, waviness, roughness and tighter manufacturing tolerances. Reduced friction also means lower energy costs during operation.
