Schaeffler will be presenting a variety of new products at Hannover Messe. Among those is the new FAG SNS plummer block housing, set out to increase the operating life of the fitted spherical roller bearings by up to 50 percent compared to conventional plummer block housings. This is made possible by the new housing design, which ensures optimum load distribution in the bearing. Further design optimizations facilitate mounting and dismounting, improve condition monitoring and operation, and thus allow the housing and bearing to be used in a particularly flexible and cost-effective manner while significantly reducing the lifecycle costs. The new block housing can also be installed as a 1-to-1 replacement for numerous conventional housings. Possible target applications for the product is the general machine building industry, as well as conveyer belt devices.
Printed linear motor
The new UPL series of printed linear motors from INA - Drives & Mechatronics AG & Co. KG (IDAM) make a convincing case thanks to their high level of cost and energy efficiency. The manufacturing technology, which IDAM has made ready for the volume production of linear motors for the first time, works by "printing" the coils of the motor layer by layer and is the reason for the motors' high performance. These coils are produced in a multi-layer design based on conventional circuit board material. Multiple layers of copper are applied and then wired together to form a "printed" coil. This type of motor, in which the forcer moves in a U-shaped secondary part, is known as an ironless linear motor. Areas of application are industrial automation, the semiconductor or medical technology, test and measurement, and positioning devices within production machinery.
Electromechanical lifting
Schaeffler's Linear Technology business unit will be presenting an electromechanical lifting column as a ready-to-fit complete solution for the first time. This features a robust construction and compact design, and can move loads of up to several hundred kilograms reliably and with a high level of technical availability. The compact mechatronic system is designed for applications with high requirements such as those found in medical technology, but it can be easily adapted to suit the requirements of other industrial applications.
Active magnetic bearing
Magnetic bearing technology is becoming more and more important as an alternative to conventional bearing supports, and is used when the technical requirements can no longer be fulfilled by other bearing types. This especially applies to medium and large industrial machinery with very high rotational speeds and shaft weights of up to several tons, such as electric motors, gas and steam turbines, compressors, and chillers. With the FAG Active Magnetic Bearing, Schaeffler has developed a standardized, cross-system complete unit comprising magnetic and back-up bearings as well as the relevant services. A special feature is that Schaeffler uses rolling bearings as back-up bearings. Schaeffler's rolling back-up bearings are also available for shaft diameters greater than 200 mm and can be used again after a shaft drop has occurred. At the same time, the use of standardized electronic control systems and power electronics that have been proven and on the market for many years allows easy integration into the machine architecture. This represents an important milestone that has been reached in the standardization of magnetic bearing technology.
Global Technology Network
Probably being the most international trade show worldwide, Schaeffler's Global Technology Network will certainly be another topic in Hannover. Since July 2012, Schaeffler has combined the existing local expertise in the different regions and countries with the knowledge and innovative strength of its experts who work globally. The company is strengthening its local expertise and bringing engineering and service knowledge closer to its customers through the introduction of 21 certified Schaeffler Technology Centers worldwide and collaboration in global expert networks.
Plant manufacturers and operators therefore are supposed to receive the optimum rolling bearing solution, which integrates the combined expertise of the network, from their Schaeffler sales engineer in next to no time. The solutions developed by Schaeffler are documented as Global Technology Solutions. In addition to the technical approach, the benefit to the customer - which in many cases can be expressed in figures as a definite saving - is also recorded. The projects that are documented show in detail how optimum solutions are created based on customers' requirements and how the Global Technology Network plays a part in doing this.
