The premature failure of a bearing can mean costly unplanned downtime that could have been prevented using the proper predictive measures. When specifying the average lifespan of a bearing, I suggest using the American Bearing Manufacturers Association’s (ABMA) preferred method, calculating for L10 life.

Not all bearings are created equal. Selecting a bearing that’s not suitable for your beverage application could increase unplanned downtime and decrease overall productivity. Take into consideration the following questions when choosing a bearing for your beverage operation.

Grid couplings, like disc and gear couplings, are designed with high torque density applications in mind. Typically composed of two shaft hubs, a horizontally split cover kit and a serpentined grid, grid couplings are well suited for shock loading applications. With proper installation, maintenance and lubrication, your grid coupling can ensure optimal performance for your coupling and the connected equipment.

In Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) connected devices, sensors are responsible for collecting data from various functions of the machine. As most connected devices have multiple sensors, it is crucial that the data being collected is conveyed to users in the most “context-driven" way possible. This is where data aggregation or “sensor fusion” comes into play.

When discussing conveying chain, catenary sag refers to the hanging shape the sagging chain takes after leaving the drive sprockets. Pro-actively checking the catenary sage of your chain can increase drive efficiency, identify chain elongation and help predict chain removal or replacement.

What if I told you that there was a tool that could help your business save 1%? That's 1% on installation time and operational costs. 1% on maintenance labor. Even 1% on ordering and replacing parts. When you add it all up, you will start to see it’s not such a small amount after all.

Purchasing industrial chain can be a difficult decision. With a wide range of options and features available, making sure you select the proper chain is critical.

If your bearing could talk, what would it say? Would it tell you that it needed to be relubricated? Would it warn you about excessive load or vibration levels? Maybe it would detail when it needed to be replaced?

All bearings have a typical service life. However, an OEM’s suggested service life is not always a guarantee. Bearing failure comes in many forms, like corrosion, and smearing. Another form of failure is called brinelling.

The power capacity of a Gear Drive is an important factor in ensuring successful operation of driven equipment with minimum downtime. Making sure the unit is correct for the application can be difficult when presented with various options.