Solution Spotlight: Capturing Savings Through Bearing Reconditiong

NSK rolls out the type of program that helps end users cut costs without sacrificing quality and performance.

No industry is immune to the current economic climate. Businesses across all sectors are evaluating every dollar they spend these days. Because bearings are so critical in industrial applications, they are an ideal place to explore cost-reduction opportunities. Reconditioning of bearings to eliminate the need for costly replacement and reduce downtime is such an opportunity. Utilizing a reconditioning program also means that customers don't have to worry about long lead times that can sometimes be associated with the purchase of new bearings.

"Bearing reconditioning is a precise science that provides superior results in extending the life of existing bearings and eliminating the need to discard or replace valuable parts," says NSK Segment Manager Donald Robertson. "Bearings reconditioned by NSK are just as reliable and perform just as well as their new counterparts, which makes them a cost-effective option for our customers seeking to reduce replacement costs."

Real-world results
According to NSK, its recently rolled-out reconditioning program is generating significant savings for customers. For instance, after being contacted by a global paper company to help with the cost-saving efforts at a Michigan mill, the NSK program helped save the company more than $75,000. NSK was also able to help the customer track and monitor the bearings during the reconditioning process—things that helped generate even more efficiencies for the mill.

How the NSK program works
Bearing damage can result from many factors—including incorrect lubrication, improper installation, misalignment, excessive heat and vibration—all of which are daily challenges in industrial operations. Under a typical reconditioning program arrangement, NSK will inspect customer bearings and provide a detailed inspection report along with the reconditioning quote. Working with NSK, customers are then able to proactively identify and correct issues that may be causing the bearing damage and thereby reduce future unexpected downtime.

For multiple sites within a company, NSK can assist in establishing a shared program for reconditioning. Shared programs can help relieve excess inventories, cut costs and provide shorter lead times for all sites. LMT

NSK Corporation
Ann Arbor, MI

For more info, enter 30 at www.LMTfreeinfo.com