B2K was approached by an aluminum wheel manufacturer that supplies both the South African and international automotive sectors. 

The situation

The company had been experiencing frequent bearing failures in its production process.

The extreme heat and load of the application had caused the bearing to fail prematurely, leading to excessive downtime in production. Additionally, over-lubrication had compromised the sealing arrangement of the unit, further contributing to poor performance. B2K assessed that the customer had been changing these units almost monthly, which was both costly and time-consuming.

The solution

After analysing the customer’s unique needs, our B2K specialist proposed a solution that would increase both bearing life and uptime. 

Our B2K specialist recommended SKF VA228 SKF high-temperature bearings that are designed for challenging operating conditions, with variants capable of performing at temperatures as high as 350 °C (660 °F). 

With graphite-based lubrication capable of lubricating at high temperatures and low speeds, these bearings eliminate the risk of metal-to-metal contact.

The results

After agreeing to a trial period, the customer’s results of using SKF high-temperature bearings were nothing short of impressive. 

B2K was able to significantly extend the bearing service life from one month to well over a year. What’s more, the new bearings are maintenance-free, thereby reducing the customer’s grease consumption.

The successful implementation of SKF high-temperature bearings is a testament to B2K’s commitment to delivering innovative solutions that unwaveringly meet the precise needs of our customers. 

By understanding the specific requirements of our customer’s production process and providing a tailored solution, we were able to assist the aluminum wheel manufacturer to reduce downtime, increase productivity, and save costs.