Sulzer has launched the Sulzer Energy Optimization Service, an energy efficiency and carbon reduction service that will create a new best practice standard for the operation of centrifugal pumps across their lifecycle for energy intensive industries such as power generation, oil and gas, chemicals and water desalination.
The Bearing Show North America 2025, colocated with Lubricant Expo North America 2025 takes place March 18–20 at Huntington Place in Detroit. The Bearing Show connects the evolving needs of bearings end-users with the latest technologies serving OEM development, maintenance professionals and R&D engineers.
The Timken Company recently announced the appointment of Kimberly K. (Kim) Ryan to its Board of Directors. Her election increases The Timken Company Board to 13 members.
SKF has secured EUR 430 million financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) with a tenor of up to ten years. The financing will support SKF’s research and development (R&D) to increase the focus on high-growth segments and accelerate the design and development of enabling technologies particularly for the green transition and sustainability.
Flexible couplings are one of the most critical components in mechanical drivetrains. Yet they're also one of the most overlooked during maintenance and inspection. In the marine and power generation industries, neglecting coupling health can be costly. Understanding your couplings and their requirements can ensure a smooth inspection and maintenance cycle. And in turn, can lead to longer coupling life and more uptime.
SKF has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Proteus Marine Renewables (PMR) and GE Vernova’s Power Conversion business. The MOU sets out a framework for a potential alliance to supply tidal turbine generation systems (TTGS) to developers of tidal arrays for commercial, multi-megawatt tidal stream projects. An initial focus will be the supply of a minimum 59MW to MeyGen PLC (MeyGen) at its site in Scotland, the largest tidal stream facility in the world.
Motion Industries, Inc., a distributor of maintenance, repair and operation replacement parts, and a premier provider of industrial technology solutions, signed a definitive purchase agreement to acquire the operating assets of Canadian-based LSI Supply Inc. and its sister company 273 Ontario (which trades as LSI). The transaction is expected to close later this month, subject to customary closing conditions.
Emerson has announced the new Series D update to the family of proven SolaHD industrial rack mount on-line uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs). The new SolaHD S4KD Series replaces the current S4KC Series, offering significant user interface improvements and other design upgrades to increase reliability and product availability. The S4KD is an on-line (double conversion) UPS, providing a zero-transfer time from external to internal power upon utility power failure to deliver a seamless flow of power for critical loads. The S4KD is available in 1000-3000 VA in 120 V and 3000 VA in 230 V configurations, each housed in a slim 2U form factor.
Despite unprecedented energy challenges, 68 percent of oil and gas industry leaders express optimism for sector growth in the coming year. This confidence, revealed in a survey by DNV, underscores the sector's resilience as it balances immediate demands with long-term environmental responsibilities.
A Vesconite and Vesconite Hilube wheel and bushing combination has been deployed at a prominent hydroelectric company in New Zealand, expanding a growing set of hydroelectric reference cases for these bearing materials.
Sulzer Flow Equipment has been selected by TechnipFMC to collaborate in developing new subsea CO2 pump solutions for new technologies. Petrobras’ revolutionary high-pressure separation technology, HISEP, enables the separation of CO2-rich natural gas from oil at the seabed. The process has the potential to provide significant gains in energy efficiency and productivity to Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels while reducing costs and emissions.
Norway is the official partner country of Hannover Messe 2024. Under the headline “pioneering the green industrial transition”, Norway will showcase digital technology and sustainable solutions for manufacturing. There will also be a strong focus on clean energy, including renewables, hydrogen, ammonia and CCS.
ABB and CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, have identified significant energy-saving potential through a strategic research partnership focused on the cooling and ventilation system at one of the world’s leading laboratories for particle physics institutes, located in Geneva, Switzerland. The study included energy efficiency audits which have helped to identify a savings potential of 17.4 percent across a fleet of 800 motors.
After years of changing new casings and propellers every three months to their process pump, a metal industry operator switched their worn-out pump to one of Sulzer’s EMW slurry pumps at their melt shop. The client considered the change a leap forward in their slurry pumping technology since the maintenance interval grew significantly, pump efficiency improved, and the change reduced power consumption.
In recognition of its environmental leadership and comprehensive disclosure in the area of climate change, Siemens has been included by the CDP on its annual Climate Change A List, the highest possible performance ranking. CDP is a leading organization evaluating corporate action on climate strategies
China is leading the world in the construction of solar, wind and thermal power plants to support its increasing demand for electrical energy. For those that use steam turbines, boiler feed pumps (BFPs) are a crucial asset and selecting the best design to suit the needs of an individual station can have many benefits. When a recent project needed some of the largest start-up BFPs available, Sulzer was selected as the preferred supplier.
Kohler Energy recently announced a new hydrogen KDI engine and its first-ever hydrogen fuel cell power system, expanding an ever-growing portfolio of clean energy solutions during the Agritechnica trade show in Hanover, Germany on November 13.
Increasing energy prices are a reality for every business, so it is important to identify processes that can help reduce operational costs and cut waste. Industries such as petrochemicals, refineries or fertilizer manufacturing have an opportunity to harness the energy in their processes to create electricity and export it to the local grid using hydraulic power recovery turbines (HPRTs). The key to a successful installation is in the selection of an expert designer and manufacturer.
Global market intelligence firm Interact Analysis recently made some revisions to its global manufacturing outlook forecast. According to the company’s latest research, the outlook for global manufacturing is bleak, and this looks set to continue throughout 2024 into early 2025. Europe in particular is feeling the pinch, while the Americas region fared well during the first half of 2023. Due to the semiconductor slump, manufacturing output in the Asia Pacific region is declining – the region accounts for almost 90% of semiconductor and components production.
This year’s WEFTEC technical exhibition and conference will see Sulzer presenting several innovations in pumping, equipment control, filtration and aeration technology for the water and wastewater sectors. Exhibiting at Booth 3625 in the South Hall of McCormick Place in Chicago, IL., Sulzer’s water experts will be available from October 2-4 to discuss new advancements in energy efficiency, reliability and sustainability.
At this year’s AIMEX, Sulzer will demonstrate its extensive knowledge of mining equipment. Offering a comprehensive range of services, Sulzer’s experts deliver cost-effective, pro-active maintenance support for all rotating equipment.
The Timken Company is providing slewing drives for the second-largest photovoltaic (PV) solar tracking system project in Australia. Solar tracker manufacturer ATEC chose Timken's Cone Drive solution to help it overcome challenging wind conditions in the mountainous region of New South Wales, where the 280 MW Wollar Solar Farm is being constructed.
Nidec Corporation has acquired full ownership of TAR, LLC d/b/a Houma Armature Works, a privately- owned US company (“Houma”). As a result of the transaction, Houma became a consolidated subsidiary of Nidec.
When older equipment starts to affect the output from the power plant – operators need to act fast, to avoid production risks escalating. This is especially true for legacy pumps. However, sourcing new units to fit the surrounding infrastructure and application requirements of the plant can be challenging. When a major thermal power plant in Rajasthan, India, faced multiple issues with an aging boiler infeed pump, the energy player overcame supply and technical challenges through their partnership with Sulzer. Sulzer provided a custom solution under its OEM-X line service, that cushioned the impact to production, while offering the assurance of reliable associated support, spanning maintenance and spares for decades to come.
The FIRST Robotics competition is a global program that brings together students, parents, teachers, mentors and experts in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Widely recognized as a great source of young engineering talent, many high-profile companies sponsor the event and use it to attract new employees. Burckhardt Compression has been supporting the 5409 Chargers team from Oakville, Canada since 2017 and this year they qualified for the world championships in Houston, TX.
Gates recently published its annual Sustainability Report for 2022. The report highlights our progress on the four pillars of our sustainability strategy: Governance, Technology, Environment, and Stewardship.
Rotork Controls has established a global reputation for robust and reliable valve actuators, operating in some of the world’s most demanding and critical applications. Thorough testing of the motors used in the actuators is one of the keys to this assured performance, with TorqSense transducers from Sensor Technology playing a vital role in the test process.
Fenner Precision Polymers, a Michelin Group Company and world leader in reinforced polymer technology, announced the purchase of 41 acres of property zoned for light industrial development in Lancaster County’s Penn Township. Fenner plans to develop the site, previously owned by Kreider Farms, as a 400,000-square-foot world-class, environmentally responsible manufacturing facility. The project plans to consolidate the majority of Fenner’s manufacturing plant sites in Pennsylvania into one location. The property is located at 426 Hostetter Road, Manheim.
Brazil’s largest producer of ethanol from sugarcane waste is embarking on a major wave of investment. With plans to build 20 second-generation processing facilities over the next seven years, Raízen has picked Sulzer as a key technology supplier.
Pumping systems are responsible for over 20 percent of the world’s electrical energy demand, and in some industrial plant operations, they can account for up to 90 percent of energy usage. Improving the energy efficiency of pumping and mixing systems is crucial in reducing production costs and supporting a more sustainable future. Several options can be available and with energy prices reaching new heights, the return on investment is rapidly reducing.
SEW-Eurodrive is expanding its comprehensive portfolio to include new motors for purely inverter operation. The synchronous motors of the DR2C.. series satisfy the highest standard-based efficiency class IE5 for adjustable-speed electric motors. This makes them yet another sustainable and energy-saving motor variant.
Kohler Engines, a Kohler company that has specialized in engine production since over a century, and Grastim, a JV specializing in high-efficiency technology solutions, have signed an agreement for a new hybrid self-generation plant at the historic Reggio Emilia facility. The project includes a 2 MW trigeneration plant and an 860 kW photovoltaic park integrated with each other, as well as the possibility of also being powered by hydrogen (hydrogen ready).
The SolarButterfly is focused on reaching millions of people, alerting them to the companies and individuals that are integral in transitioning societies away from fossil fuels toward clean energy technologies. Presently on a four-year journey around the world, the SolarButterfly plans to identify, record, and publicize at least a thousand climate protection pioneers and their solutions.
SKF has extended its Microlog Analyzer family of data collection devices with a new model that offers faster measurement collection and greater diagnostic power.
Precision flexible shaft couplings come in two basic forms, both of which are designed to operate without backlash or excessive inertia while compensating for inevitable misalignment offsets between motor/gearbox and load. Torsionally stiff couplings are made with metallic flexible elements and with the intent to eliminate as much twisting deflection as possible so that the rotation of both shafts is kept as well synchronized as can be.
ABB is celebrating the “floor pour” of its newest U.S. flagship campus at 18250 W. Lincoln Avenue. The greenfield location in New Berlin will serve as the U.S. headquarters, manufacturing facility and distribution center for the Drives and Motion Services businesses. The new facility is anticipated to open in late 2024 and will accommodate 720 ABB employees. Approximately $100 million is being invested in the project and is expected to create 100 new jobs over the next three years.
PTE will feature a variety of new component technologies online for bearings, motors, couplings, brakes, gear drives, and motion control systems leading up to Hannover Messe 2023 in Germany. Here is a preview of some couplings suppliers to check out if you're planning on attending the event online or in-person in April.
In an age of online shopping and mass production, distribution centers are on the rise. Naturally, the amount of packaging is also increasing, and a practical solution is needed to close the loop on recycling so much waste. One major tool distribution company in the U.S. Midwest has found its own “circular economy” answer to this problem by using EcoShield Heat Sealable Paper to recycle used boxes into dunnage bags.
Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has developed its own “Green Index” to ascertain the greenhouse gas balance of materials.
Today, gearboxes are inevitable in numerous applications requiring high power density including wind turbines, electric vehicles, cranes, robotics, etc. A combination of high-ratio gearboxes with high-speed, low-torque motors is often used to achieve high power density. Planetary gear trains (PGTs) help achieve a high gear ratio in a compact arrangement. Several configurations of planetary gears are widely studied in this article where the gear profiles used in these studies are primarily involute.
PT products such as gears, motors, pumps, fans and bearings will—without a doubt—continue to run through rigorous and harsh environments for the foreseeable future, but software and hardware improvements aim to disrupt unplanned downtime and machine maintenance through a series of new condition monitoring assets.
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has validated the Schaeffler Group’s targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions as being in conformity with SBTi criteria and recommendations and hence in line with what the latest climate science considers necessary in order to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. The global automotive and industrial supplier is committed to cutting its absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent by 2030, with 2019 as its base year. The company has also set itself the target of reducing its absolute Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions from purchased goods and services, fuel- and energy-related activities, and upstream transportation and distribution by 25 percent over the same period.
As of January 2023, Arkos Field Services, acquired by Burckhardt Compression in 2019, is integrated with Burckhardt Compression (US) Inc. Customers benefit from combined knowledge, expertise and unrivalled solutions for reciprocating compressors and other equipment from one provider. The integration of the two brands streamlines business processes to provide easy access and a solutions-driven customer experience.
The H2Eco Award is presented to national and international companies that contribute an outstanding commitment to a green hydrogen economy by technical innovation, economics and entrepreneurship according to the principles of economic efficiency, sustainability and security of supply. The contribution to protecting the climate stands in the foreground. The principle of H2Eco is an ecological and sustainable hydrogen future.
Clark Seals, a sealing technology company, recently announced that Jeff Thompson has joined the company as territory sales manager. In his new position, Thompson will manage sales operations in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
On Wednesday, November 16 and Thursday, November 17, the Reggio Emilia’s plant of Kohler Engines sponsored and hosted the event "Alternative Fuels. A sustainable path to engines decarbonization", a workshop organized by SAE-NA, STEMS-CNR and Kohler.
Wind-turbine drivetrains undergo severe transient loading during start-ups, shut-downs, emergency stops, and during grid connections. Load cases that result in torque reversals may be particularly damaging to bearings, as rollers may be skidding during the sudden relocation of the loaded zone. Seals and lubrication systems must work reliably over a wide temperature variation to prevent the ingress of dirt and moisture and perform effectively at all rotational speeds in the gearbox. Many wind-turbine gearboxes have also suffered from fundamental design issues such as ineffective interference fits that result in unintended motion and wear, ineffectiveness of internal lubrication paths and problems with sealing. Improving the resistance of future gearbox designs to all these issues is a key to the future cost of energy generated by wind turbines.
The Timken Company has completed its previously announced acquisition of GGB Bearings.
Danfoss Power Solutions has appointed Ines E. Sira as the new president of its Fluid Conveyance division, effective immediately. Based at the company’s campus in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Sira will be a key member of the Power Solutions leadership team and will report directly to Eric Alström, president of Danfoss Power Solutions.
Cortec Corporation is proud to be named a BioPreferred Program Champion. Cortec recently received this badge of honor in recognition of its involvement and faith in the USDA BioPreferred Program, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
Sulzer recently attended the Rio Oil & Gas Expo 2022, where visitors discovered its pumps, 24/7 rotating equipment services and chemical separation technologies. Attendees met with Sulzer experts to see how these solutions can maximize process uptime.
Decarbonization is a key focus for leading design, engineering and manufacturing organizations. To provide access to the most up to date CO2e emission data for materials and energies, Siemens Digital Industries Software recently announced its collaboration with sustamize GmbH, a leading ClimateTech company providing professional technology, data and software solutions enabling companies to measure, optimize and manage CO2 emissions.
In its largest order to date, Danish wind turbine test specialist R&D Test Systems will develop the 30 MW powertrain and gearbox test bench for ZF Wind Power’s future “Test & Prototype Center” at Lommel, Belgium. Capable of simulating the multiplicity of wind loads that a nacelle powertrain might experience in its lifetime, the test rig, to be delivered in 2024, will help improve product reliability and shorten time to market.
Stöber Antriebstechnik GmbH + Co. KG rely on the FVA-Workbench for dimensioning and verification of their drives. The calculation and simulation software allows Stöber engineers to develop their innovative gear unit solutions more quickly and efficiently. The result: higher quality products.
Bonfiglioli presents the new high performant 800 series which comes in five sizes from 25,000 to 160,000 Nm in marine-resistant paint, suitable for blast cleaning. Easy and fast assembly of the 800 series gearboxes into the winch drum is a key feature of their design. Maintenance requirements are made as simple as possible, e.g., with an easy access to the brake, ready-made brake replacement kits as well as easy access to oil filling, draining plugs, and oil level pipe/indicator.
The Timken Company has reached an agreement to acquire GGB Bearing Technology (GGB), a division of Enpro, Industries (including exclusive negotiations with respect to the French operations of GGB). Founded in 1899, GGB serves a variety of diverse customers, markets, geographies and applications with a product portfolio that complements existing Timken industry-leading engineered bearing solutions. GGB revenue is expected to be around $200 million in fiscal year 2022.
Sulzer has partnered with CELLiCON to scale up its manufacturing technology for nano structured cellulose – a highly sustainable, plant-based alternative to conventional polymers. The technology slashes the traditionally high costs and footprint associated with nanocellulose, allowing it to be scaled and used as a building block for a wide variety of everyday products, from textiles to glues.
We’ve covered SKF in medical, wind turbine, hand tool, solar panel, and compressor applications. We’ve examined SKF bearings utilized in crazy, out-of-this-world, aerospace applications. Nothing, however, tops the seal of approval coming from a professional skater in Europe.
Growth in the global linear market is being driven by both increased demand across key industries and the clear advantages of linear motors over conventional motors. Within this segment, the contribution of ANCA Motion’s LinX M-Series linear motor has expanded the market and stands out above ball screw and flatbed motor options due to several design intricacies that simplify installation and use and push quality performance even further. Designed for function, the tubular construction of the LinX has several key benefits over flat linear motors.
The engineering community is fascinated with big, shiny, yellow machines. Walk into any manufacturing facility around the globe and you’ll find guests huddled around the biggest, loudest, and most intimidating equipment on the shop floor. These large machines must play by the same rules as everybody else—they need to reduce energy consumption, lower plant costs, and increase productivity. Many power transmission component suppliers are tasked with optimizing this equipment.
Print is not dead. While reading magazines cover-to-cover is a lost art—thanks to work responsibilities, 24-hour sports/entertainment coverage, and the universal time suck known as Instagram—someone, somewhere still prefers the printed word to the shiny, unfriendly artificial light of tablets and smartphones. This publication (hopefully) provides information engineers can discuss, debate, or collaborate on for future manufacturing endeavors. There would be no words, no photographs, no advertising without the paper used to print this very magazine.
Sensors Expo & Conference got its start 37 years ago with a focus on sensor technology. Over the years it has expanded and diversified to include the electronics technologies and embedded systems that work hand-in-hand with sensors, as well as new and emerging application areas such as IoT, Connectivity, Autonomous, Medical, and more. Join us as we explore the entire ecosystem, from sensing to processing to analyzing and connecting.
Voith has acquired Argo-Hytos. Based in Baar, Switzerland, the company develops and produces components for hydraulics and system solutions with a focus on the off-highway sector (agricultural tractors, construction equipment and material handling vehicles). A corresponding agreement was signed on June 6, 2022.
One of ONYX’s customers and a leader in driving up the reliability and asset performance of the wind industry, Pattern Energy, uses ONYX turbine monitoring for over 1,100 wind turbines. Across this fleet ONYX connects several CMS hardware types to fleetMONITOR, a multi-brand solution for drivetrain monitoring. Two of the wind farms were retrofitted with ecoCMS in 2018, the technology with which ONYX disrupted the CMS industry.
A high force-to-size ratio is just one of the many features of Moticont’s GVCM-051-089-02 Linear Voice Coil Actuator with Built-in Bearing. The actuator applies up to 66.4 N (14.9 lbs.) of continuous force and 210 N (47.2 lbs.) of peak force.
SKF RecondOil’s technology, which removes even the smallest impurities from circulating oil, is now available in a compact form.
With the introduction of the PressFit rotary encoders from Heidenhain, small-motor manufacturers finally have a better solution for incorporating automated mounting for feedback devices. This new ExI 11xx encoder series features a unique compact design that allows fast and simple mounting by press-fitting into a motor housing while still allowing surrounding space for cables and seals.
The gear and gear drive segment of mechanical power transmission continues to focus on performance, reliability and safety. There are several new products offering increased load capacity, reduced friction and longer service life. For those components unable to keep up with industrial demands, there’s a gearbox MRO team waiting to handle emergency repair services.
Sulzer has begun the construction of an all-new 7,200 sq. ft. expansion to its Baton Rouge Service Center in Louisiana.
A Conversation with Jeff Hemphill, CTO at Schaeffler Group USA Inc. Matthew Jaster, Senior Editor