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Marine

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-11-19

Thordon Bearing Unveils Wireless Wear Measurement System

Thordon Bearings has unveiled a new wireless propeller shaft bearing wear measurement system, marking a significant advancement in hull and propeller shaft condition monitoring.

| 2024-11-13

Maintenance in Marine and Power Generation

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.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2024-10-02

Environmental Engineering

Clearing the world’s waterways of invasive vegetation, algae, refuse, and other pollutants is essential work with enormous impact. Healthy marine environments are a lifeline for so many things—from jobs such as farming, fishing, and shipping; to clean water and wildlife habitats; to property values, tourism, and recreational opportunities. Regular herbicide use, chemical runoff, and basic evolution have caused numerous plant species to develop resistance, leading to clogged waterways and other hazards. Removing the offensive materials mechanically is ideal, but that method poses different challenges. Fortunately, Weedoo Greenboat, Inc. found an environmentally friendly solution that is also cost effective from Renewable Lubricants. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-08-20

Siemens Digital Collaborates with Orient Express Racing Team

Siemens Digital Industries Software has announced that the Orient Express Racing Team is using the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software to aid in preparation for upcoming 37th America’s Cup and to gain competitive advantage.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-08-14

Motion Enters into Agreement to Purchase Industrial Products Distributor

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-06-24

Vesconite Bearings Assists with Hydroelectric Weed Extraction

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-05-22

Intellidrives Introduces Waterproof and Dust-Resistant Linear Actuators

This Intellidrives waterproof and dust-resistant linear slide motion axis is engineered for reliability in harsh environments. With IP43 ratings, it withstands water and dust ingress, ensuring seamless operation in wet or dusty conditions. Ideal for outdoor use, marine applications, or industrial settings prone to moisture and debris. These axes offer precise and smooth linear motion control, enhancing automation systems' performance. 

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PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-02-21

Voith Provides Inline Thrusters for Superyacht

Spanning more than 118 meters long, Liva, delivered in August 2023, is the largest superyacht to date built by the prestigious Abeking & Rasmussen shipbuilder in Lemwerder, Germany, near Bremen. However, its length is by no means the only record-breaking feature that the shipyard offers in the superyacht segment. The sleek black hull is a visual highlight that draws the observer’s gaze to focus entirely on the elegant silhouette. All technical necessities are accommodated in a way that makes them as invisible as possible.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2023-12-01

FVA-Workbench Drives Progress in Marine Transmissions at Reintjes

Developing a new gearbox series is costly and time-consuming. This is especially true in marine propulsion, as classification society certifications must be achieved in addition to the required verifications. For this reason, Reintjes offers the same drives for various types of ships. In gearbox development, this means that each application requires different loads and usage profiles, with different service lives and maintenance intervals. Thus, each drive must be designed and calculated with advance consideration of every possible profile.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2023-09-28

Next-Generation Lubricants for Marine Applications

From manufacturing to maritime, the quest for sustainable solutions has given rise to the development of environmentally friendly lubricants. Among these, Environmentally Considerate Lubricants (ECL) and Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs) have gained prominence for their positive impact on both equipment performance and the planet. Let’s delve into the differences and advantages of these lubricant classifications.

POWER PLAY | 2023-09-08

A Second Chance on the High Seas

Transfluid LLC was approached by Palmer Johnson to provide a competitive quote to the BAE system for the fishing vessel, The Western Flyer. The ship was chartered by author John Steinbeck for an expedition he chronicled in the book, The Log from the Sea of Cortez. 

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2023-09-07

Efficiency, Engineering & Espionage

By definition, a spherical roller bearing (SRB) is a rolling element bearing that permits rotation with low friction and permits angular misalignment. SRBs consist of spherical rolling elements, an outer ring, a cage as well as an inner ring with two raceways inclined at an angle to the bearing axis. SRB technology has landed the component in unique applications including high pressure grinding rolls (HPGRs), pipelaying ships, Ferris wheels and even a Cold War–era marine espionage mission.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-08-08

Forum Energy Technologies Subsea Bolsters Brazil Growth Strategy with Partner Appointment

Forum Energy Technologies (FET) has appointed UnderOcean Servicos Maritimos (UnderOcean) to represent its Subsea operations in Brazil.  The partnership will see UnderOcean provide business development and engineering support on behalf of FET’s Subsea Technologies product line in Brazil. Headquartered in Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, UnderOcean will deliver service, repair, calibration, upgrades, and modifications for FET’s remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), associated tooling and Dynacon Launch & Recovery Systems.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-08-03

Transfluid Offers Versatile Pump Solution

The Transfluid MPD (multiple pump drive) is an innovative split drive module designed to sandwich between the main diesel engine and transmission. It features an integrated flexible coupling on the input side and an SAE standard flywheel and housing on the output side. Gear driven PTO heads provide multiple pump pads for mounting pumps, while the output flywheel ensures adequate power transfer to drive larger transmissions. 

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INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-08-01

Gear Industry Honors Frederic (Fred) Marlin Young (1943-2023)

Fred Young, 80, former president and CEO, Forest City Gear passed away on July 17, 2023. A graduate of Harlem High School, class of 1961, Young obtained his BA in English Literature from Rockford University, class of 1965, and went on to spend a year in the Navy Reserves. After spending nearly 40 years as an adventuring bachelor outdoorsman, he met the love of his life, Wendy Nutter, marrying her on the banks of the Wolf River on June 6, 1981. Fred’s greatest joys were his three daughters, whom he taught to always seek adventure, bestow kindness and generosity, treasure friendship, and work hard and play hard. Fred took over the family business, Forest City Gear, in 1967. Founded by his parents in 1955, Fred took the small mom-and-pop shop to a global level, leading the company to manufacture some of the world’s most difficult gearing for amazing end uses from NASA’s Martian rovers and space station to robotic arms and racing yachts.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-07-28

Nord Provides Advantageous Corrosion Protection for Extreme Operating Conditions

Harsh operating conditions are present in many industries such as food and beverage, bakery, automotive parts washing, chemical, water treatment, marine, car wash, and pharmaceutical industries. Applications in these environments are often subjected to intensive cleaning, high-pressure washing, and disinfection processes to meet the highly regulated, hygienic standards. To prevent gear motors from material destruction due to the rigorous cleaning agents and disinfectants, Nord Drivesystems developed nsd tupH – a sealed surface conversion system that ensures easy yet safe cleaning, ultimate surface durability, and wear resistance.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-07-24

Burckhardt Compression Services Four Marine Vessels

Burckhardt Compression recently provided a full range of compressor and auxiliary services for four marine vessels that were undergoing their five-year service at a dry dock in Korea. All four vessels were under a long-term service agreement (LTSA) with Burckhardt Compression, which made it possible for the scope and expected spare parts to be prepared well ahead of time. The service was completed within three and a half months, despite the challenges of hot and rainy weather as well as a confined work area with simultaneous work ongoing by different teams.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-07-19

Frederic (Fred) Marlin Young (1943–2023)

It is with great sadness that Forest City Gear announces the death of Fred Young, former president and CEO. Fred took over the family business, Forest City Gear, in 1967. Founded by his parents in 1955, Fred took the small mom-and-pop shop to a global level, leading the company to manufacture some of the world's most difficult gearing for amazing end uses from NASA's Martian rovers and space station to robotic arms and racing yachts.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-07-10

Nidec Completes Acquisition of Houma Armature Works

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-06-27

TorqSense Transducers Help Valve Actuator Performance

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.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-06-07

Kurt Hydraulics Introduces Stainless Steel Couplings

Kurt Hydraulics has introduced a new lineup of stainless-steel couplings for applications ranging from marine hydraulics to food production and medical processes to fertilizer and chemical handling or other tough applications requiring washdowns. 

REVOLUTIONS | 2023-05-30

Low-Friction Bearings Reduce Energy Losses in Free-Stream Turbines

A hydro turbine company based in Portland, Maine, has chosen Vesconite Bearings’ lowest-friction material for the thrust bearings on its free-stream turbines.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-05-03

SKF Adds Microlog Analyzer dBX to Condition Monitoring Portfolio

SKF has extended its Microlog Analyzer family of data collection devices with a new model that offers faster measurement collection and greater diagnostic power. 

TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2023-04-06

On the Potential of High-Ratio Planetary Gearboxes for Next-Generation Robotics

The earliest example of a gear train dates to at least 2,000 B.C. when Chinese engineers built a chariot that used a complex planetary mechanism made of wooden gears to let a dragon head continuously point south when driven around (Ref. 1). In Greece, a surprisingly advanced Antikythera gearbox mechanism, incorporating at least 37 precisely crafted bronze gears, was built years later, between 205–60 B.C. (Ref. 2).

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-02-21

Timken Continues to Provide Main Reduction Gears for U.S. Navy Ships

The Timken Company continues to be a key contributor to the latest generation of United States Navy ships. General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) recently awarded Timken a long-term contract to deliver Philadelphia Gear main reduction gears (MRGs) for all future Flight III ships of the Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) class. The contract, if executed fully, will result in revenue of more than $500 million for Timken over approximately five to eight years. Production is expected to begin in 2024.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2023-02-07

Vesconite Marine Rudder Bearings

Vesconite Bearings, through its supply of marine rudder bearings to the MN Colibri charter vessel in June, is proud to be associated with an exciting communication satellite launch that took place in September 2022. The MN Colibri has historically transported launcher components, including communications satellites, for various heavy-lift space launch vehicles, and outfitted with the Vesconite rudder bearings allowed it to transport the Eutelsat Konnect VHTS satellite, which is regarded as an important addition to global telecommunications infrastructure.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-12-14

Cortec Simplifies Protection with Corrosion Inhibitor

Corrosion under insulation (CUI) is a longtime plague of petrochemical, refinery, and marine environments. The problem is so bad that an estimated 40-60 percent of piping maintenance costs in the oil and gas industry stem from CUI-related expenses. Even worse, undetected CUI on pipes carrying hazardous liquids may lead to leaks and potential explosions. To tackle this dangerous and costly problem, Cortec Corporation has developed CorroLogic CUI Inhibitor Injection, a new Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitor technology that simplifies protection for insulated pipes reaching a high range of temperatures.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-12-13

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Adopts Siemens Software

Siemens Digital Industries Software announced that the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli America's Cup team is using the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of software and services to design, simulate and optimize its racing yacht for the forthcoming America’s Cup challenge (37th America’s Cup).

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