When it comes to choosing bearing solutions, there are multiple options, and the right choice will depend on the application. Motion Australia Key Account Executive Brad Hudson uses the analogy of car types when describing why some packages – such as a Timken SNT Plummer Block housing and bearing solution – might achieve better results.

“Any car can get you from A to B, but its ongoing performance will be determined by the quality of its design, its parts and maintenance,” Brad says. “It’s the same for industrial equipment, which rely on bearings to rotate and move. Certain industrial applications are particularly taxing on equipment and componentry, and so quality and strength will be key to their performance.”

In the case of a customer who runs a recycling business – where used materials are shredded and processed for re-purposing – there was an ongoing issue with one of their critical conveyor applications on site.

“This particular conveyor operates in a rugged environment where the bearings are actually upside down on the conveyor – and the bearings they were using just kept failing, which wasn’t just increasing maintenance expenditure, but was taking its toll on the whole production facility,” explains Brad.

“We suggested switching them out with the Timken SNT housed units which have a number of features that make them robust and reliable in these settings. Since they’ve changed over to the Timken SNT solution the conveyor has been running smoothly.”