A customer in the pulp and paper converting industry is benefiting from cost savings of € 10.560 annually, plus improved productivity, longer bearing life and reduced maintenance, since replacing the existing bearings on a pulp converting machine with NSK‘s unique Molded OilTM bearings. The savings are the result of NSK providing a solution to a long running problem of premature bearing failure on the pulp converting machine. The guide rollers on the machine are driven by a cellulose Web, so low torque operation is a decisive factor in optimising their operation. Initially, to cater for this requirement, bearings with split seals were used. However, these units had to be changed every 6- months due to ingress of contamination in the form of paper dust. An analysis of the machine operation revealed that the recurring failure of the split seal bearings was costing the converter company €12.000 annually: this figure including production losses, maintenance costs and bearing replacement every 6 months. The Molded Oil bearings were installed in three converting machines: the success of this bearing substitution is evident from the performance of the bearings which are still operating 18-months after installation. What this means for the user is that, for an outlay of just € 1.440, he has saved € 10.560 (the €12,000 annual cost of bearing failure minus the cost of the bearings).
