Bearing technology from Schaeffler Group Industrial ensures the high-precision operation of the Andasol solar power plants in Spain, thus enabling them to achieve their maximum level of efficiency. More than thousand hydraulic rod ends from ELGES – Schaeffler Group Industrial’s plain bearing brand – support several hundreds of hydraulically-adjustable parabolic troughs, positioning them with millimeter precision and helping them to continuously follow the sun.

The Schaeffler Group uses modern coating technology in order to optimize the functionality of surfaces in heavily loaded rolling bearings and precision components. In focus are coatings that prevent or reduce corrosion and fretting corrosion, as well as wear, friction, slippage and the passage of current. Offered under the trademarks of Corrotect®, Durotect®, Triondur® and Isotect®, the coatings are applied to the component surfaces in a number of different methods, without a thermo-chemical diffusion occurring between the coating and the base material.

The Schaeffler Group is preparing the expansion of its manufacturing capacity in North America for its multiple award-winning UniAir product, which is the world’s first continuously variable hydraulic valve train system. The UniAir valve train actuator, invented by Fiat Powertrain Technologies and developed and produced under licence by the Schaeffler Group, is a key component of the Fiat Powertrain Technologies MultiAir* system, which made its debut in the middle of 2009 with introduction of the Alfa MiTo 1.4 MultiAir.

The Schaeffler Group’s bearing calculation and simulation program, Bearinx®, now also offers a new friction calculation function. This enables users to calculate the energy efficiency of different bearing supports in a specific application. With Bearinx®, the Schaeffler Group can identify the maximum saving potential of a system at an early design stage.

Rolling bearings offer only limited suitability for swivel motion when subjected to simultaneous high loads. Especially when small swivel angles in combination with shock loads and vibration form part of the operating conditions, this can lead to ripples in the raceways (false brinelling). In addition to uneven running and increased noise development, this often results in premature bearing failure. Schaeffler Group Industrial offers a wide range of ELGES branded plain bearings as an alternative to rolling bearings.

Vibratory machines are playing an increasingly important role in the construction industry. They permit the replacement of conventional, time-consuming and environmentally harmful work methods with new, much more effective and eco-friendlier techniques.