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FEATURE MECHANICAL COMPONENTS
COUNTERFEIT BEARINGS!
BEWARE OF
Despite often looking very realistic, counterfeit bearings are at a greater risk of failure, offer
bearings is simple to do, especially when it comes to the smaller ones, with the technology used to do it getting better and cheaper. In fact imitation packaging or markings on the bearings are becoming so realistic that in many cases you may not be able to tell them apart from the genuine artefact. Growing demand is fuelling this problem –
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customers want lower prices and shorter lead times, and may go for the cheaper option. As we are currently experiencing a shortage of bearings and lead times are rising significantly, more people may be tempted by false promises.
recognising counterfeits
As an example, although you may not be able to tell the difference between genuine EZO bearings (manufactured by Sapporo Precision of Japan and available in the UK from SMB Bearings) and a counterfeited bearing, your equipment will. Counterfeit bearings are typically made from
much lower quality materials, increasing the risk of failure. And, when the bearing does fail, it can cause catastrophic equipment failure, far outstripping any savings that were made by the cheaper original purchase. Even worse, according to the WBA, 39% of counterfeits pose a danger to life. A counterfeit bearing could also mean
poorer performance, resulting in rising maintenance costs, and a lower fatigue life – meaning replacement is required sooner. In fact recently a petrochemical processor
was forced to make an emergency shutdown, at which point it discovered that it was being supplied with counterfeit SKF bearings.
combat the problem
Only the largest manufacturers, such as NSK and SKF, have the financial resources to actively go after the counterfeiters. For the rest of us, here are a few general pointers: • Poor imitations may be detectable, but many sophisticated counterfeiters can produce replicas that will look almost identical to the real thing. Only an experienced technician will be able to identify the counterfeit. So, if you have suspicions, contact the
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earings are among the most counterfeited critical components in industrial and engineering applications. Counterfeiting
poorer performance, and have a lower fatigue life than genuine bearings. Chris Johnson,
managing director of SMB Bearings, explains what to look out for
manufacturer. They will generally be happy to test and check for you.
• Excessive noise or premature failures can be attributed to a range of factors, but these should serve as potential warning signs that your bearings may not be genuine. Reputable suppliers should be able to offer advice and technical expertise if you are experiencing these problems.
• Take advantage of apps that can alert you to
the risk of counterfeits. Many manufacturers offer apps specifically designed to authenticate their bearings for free, using the manufacturer’s database of bearing codes. Finally, make your purchases directly from official distributors.
SMB Bearings T: 01993 842555
www.smbbearings.com
wINCHES, PULLEYS AND SHACKLES MAKE wIND TURBINE MAINTENANCE A BREEZE!
Wind farm operators need to maintain the installed towers, nacelles and other components. However, removal and maintenance of the blades can be problematic - not only can the rotor blades measure 80m (approx. 260 ft.) in length and weigh more than 24t, but they are often located in remote, windy locations. Cranes and heavy rigging have therefore been essential – until now. Following last year’s acquisition by The Crosby Group, a global leader in lifting, rigging, and
load securement hardware, Airpes has widened delivery of innovative lifting, handling and weighing solutions for the wind energy and industrial markets. One example is the craneless wind turbine rotor blade exchange system. Josep Compte, managing director and co-founder of Airpes, now called Crosby Airpes, said: “Our
challenge was to develop a more cost-effective, faster solution, to replace the logistical feat of getting big cranes, hoisting technology, and personnel onto remote sites, sometimes for multiple days… Our ground-level, winch-based, system avoids the use of large cranes, immediately eliminating much of the time and costs involved with other solutions.” Combining winches at ground-level with a series of pulleys and shackles in the nacelle, Crosby
Airpes can remove and replace blades in a six o’clock position. On the top of the tower, a rig is customised according to the turbine. For installation, a smaller mobile crane provides the necessary support to the tip of the blade, at a fraction of the cost of bringing a high-capacity crawler or mobile crane onto site. Of additional benefit, the state-of-the-art system is a more sustainable, greener, method.
The Crosby Group
www.thecrosbygroup.com
5 DESIGN SOLUTIONS JULY/AUGUST 2022
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