Schaeffler Australia has introduced a new range of FAG bearings featuring Durotect CK coating in the bore to deliver 70 per cent better lifespan by withstanding the extreme stresses of vibratory machinery. The new FAG T41D series special spherical roller bearings featuring Schaeffler X-Life quality standards and the hard chromium Durotect CK premium performance coating are designed to resist fretting corrosion of shafts and journal wear, setting new industry benchmarks throughout Australia and New Zealand for longer service life. According to Schaeffler Australia Industrial Sector Manager Mr Martin Grosvenor, the high durability bearings simultaneously deliver greater load carrying capacity, greater operational safety (by preventing breakdowns and extensive maintenance), and more efficient use of space in heavy duty applications. The FAG spherical roller bearings operate 70 per cent longer than conventional bearings in the same installation, providing best-in-class performance. The bearings radically reduce maintenance and downtime by optimising bearing protection against high, mostly shock-type loads encountered in vibrating screens. The high durability of the bearings also means operating loads can be increased considerably over the same lifetime as before, offering compact, efficient use of space. Key features of the FAG T41D series roller bearings with Durotect CK protection include special T41 dimensional tolerances applicable to the bearings’ inner and outer rings allowing optimum interference fit to be achieved on the outer ring and sliding fit on the inner ring; C4 radial internal clearance preventing harmful radial preloading; and Durotect CK plating on inner bore preventing fretting corrosion of the shaft and reducing cross-location of bearings for improved load distribution due to unhindered thermal expansion of the shaft. X-Life features include Bainite heat treatment delivering improved productivity through temperature stability up to 200°C; surface hardened cage with high wear resistance; and cage guidance by the outer ring to accommodate centrifugal forces. X-Life’s tighter inside and outside diameter dimensional tolerances offer better control of fit in both housing and shaft. FAG T41D bearings with Durotect CK are purpose-designed to meet and exceed the challenges of rolling bearings in vibrating screens, which are typically stressed by high, mostly shock-type loads. For instance, the bearings, while rotating about their own axis, perform a circular, elliptical or linear vibrating motion, resulting in high radial accelerations and additionally stressing the bearings, and especially the cages. The high operating speeds increase bearing temperatures by up to 20 to 30 degrees Kelvin over normal applications. Additionally, considerable misalignments between the bearing locations and shaft deflections have to be accommodated. Coatings such as Durotect CK can also profoundly improve a variety of bearing characteristics, such as wear, corrosion-resistance, run-in behaviour and behaviours under lubrication-starved conditions. Combining the benefits of the T41D design with the Durotect CK performance coating means operators can function more efficiently and achieve the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) while delivering a higher level of performance and machine reliability. As a world-leader in innovative bearing design, Schaeffler backs up the new bearings with extensive Australasian experience and expertise, including its ASB competence centre focussing particularly on bearing and housing solutions for heavy industry segments such as mining and energy, quarry, mineral processing, cement manufacturing, paper processing, process engineering and materials handling.