Tapered Roller Bearings

Tapered roller bearings (TRB’s) from PEER make use of the rolling elements which are shaped like a truncated cone. The reason for this design is that all the tapered surfaces converge at a common point on the bearing centerline, and this yields true rolling motion. Tapered roller bearings are used for lower  speed and high load applications, and also have the ability to accommodate radial & axial loads. The internal angles of the bearing can be custom designed to suit the load of a specific application.

Tapered roller bearings can be arranged face-to-face, back-to-back, or in tandem depending on the application load requirements. Most TRB’s are mounted face-to-face or back-to-back so that axial forces can be supported equally in both directions. Tandem arrangements limit axial load carrying capability to only one direction.

Tapered roller bearings consist of a separable two-piece design (cup and cone); which, enables the end-user to mount each component independently and results in assembly flexibility. PEER mainly concentrates on manufacturing single row (TS), sealed single row (LA), and matched pair tapered roller bearings. A sealed TRB is used to protect the bearing from contamination due to application environment. A matched pair is manufactured with a pre-defined axial clearance which allows user to mount easily while achieving the proper setting for successful bearing operation.  

Due to their ability to handle heavy combined loads, PEER Tapered Roller Bearings are used in many applications within the Agricultural, Off Highway, Fluid, Material Handling, & Industrial Transmission industries and include applications such as tractor axles, ag implements, construction track rollers, hydraulic pumps, bulk conveyor rollers, and speed reducer gearboxes.

No matter what the industry is, PEER application engineers use performance prediction tools to analyze the application and find a bearing that exactly fits the requirement. This allows PEER to specify the right design to meet your performance requirements the first time. 

Software Advances Shorten Development Time in New Bearing Applications

Here at PEER Bearing Company, we are always looking for the newest advancements that can help us improve the design and application of our bearings, resulting in improved performance. The newest addition to our repertoire is Mesys rolling bearing analysis software. With this tool at our disposal, we'll be able to improve on our already impressive design and application abilities. 

This software is used by PEER Application Engineers to calculate advanced bearing life in applications and accounts for variables such as bearing loads, speeds, misalignments due to shaft/housing deflections, lubrication, etc. It also allows PEER engineers to dive internally into the bearing and analyze stresses at each rolling element, allowing for potential design improvements tailored to the industry and/or customer needs. Combine this with our ability to create 3D models of these bearings, and we can give our customers a close look at what the product will look like and what its capabilities will be before we begin production. It can also make us aware of what problems we may need to solve beforehand. These capabilities can significantly reduce or eliminate the need for costly lab and field testing and help shorten the time to market for new products. This is yet another way we can expand our capabilities and offer more value for our customers. 

These examples illustrate how manufacturers can use recent advancements like advanced calculation software and 3D modeling to provide more varied and valuable services for their customers. 3D modeling allows a manufacturer to gain a better insight into the component they are creating and, ultimately, results in a higher quality product. New technology, when properly leveraged, can be used to improve every stage of the design and application process, and we plan to ensure that we always take advantage of recent advancements that can add value for our customers.

Our TurfXtreme™ Bearings Keep your Outdoor Power Equipment Running

It’s never too late to start preparing for the next season. In our field, that means looking ahead to spring, when landscaping and gardening become more prominent. In order for workers to be most prepared for landscaping, gardening, and light construction, their outdoor power equipment needs to be in tip-top shape. And that is specifically where PEER Bearing steps in.

Our TurfXtreme™ product line features bearing solutions meant primarily for lawn and garden equipment. All landscapers have one thing in common – they want to get their job done. This means that regardless of rainy weather or having to wash the equipment out, their equipment is still perfectly equipped to run efficiently. The TurfXtreme™ bearing sealing solution allows for just this—the bearings are designed with sealing technology that seals out clippings, water, and debris while simultaneously maintaining the bearing’s integrity.

This is what makes the TurfXtreme™ line stand out: the sealing solution prevents bearing failure in harsh conditions, ensuring the bearings will perform no matter what environment they are placed in. Not only are the bearings able to prevent contamination on the equipment, they also help prevent corrosion. In the long run, this means your equipment will last longer with less maintenance on your end. Our TurfXtreme™ bearings keep your machines running as long as you need them.

We are excited, then, to bring our bearings to the GIE+ Expo show this October 22nd-24th. This is the largest outdoor landscaping equipment trade show in the industry and we are happy to be exhibiting our TurfXtreme™ line for the third year in a row (we’ll be at booth 9006!). This show will give us the opportunity to show off the benefits of our bearings and why they are the best solution to keep any outdoor power equipment running day in and day out, keeping you prepared for the upcoming spring season!

Bearings: The Fuel Behind State Fairs

Ferris wheels and other carnival rides. Agricultural products and displays. Demo derbies and combine tournaments. You may think the only common tie between these items is the fact that they all appear at state fairs. However, you would be wrong; there is one other commonality we can think of, and that would be bearings.

It is that time of year when local county and state fairs are beginning to occur, and we know for a fact that bearings are all over the fairs, everywhere from the rides to the displays to the equipment. As bearing manufacturers, we like to think it is the bearings that keep the fairs running efficiently and successfully year after year.

County and state fairs were first started years ago in 1841 in order to place a focus on agriculture and food production.[1] In fact, the fairs were brought to fruition as a means of promoting agricultural and manufacturing production.[2] This tradition has maintained throughout the years; fairs across the country are held in conjunction with the harvest season. Not only do many of their fairs participate in 4H events, but they also hold educational programs and feature displays based around agriculture. And they are still attracting crowds; this year’s Wisconsin State Fair saw record attendances, who not only were able to enjoy many attractions and forms of entertainment, but also learn more about the farming industry as “the event at its core is about showcasing an industry that generates more than $50 billion in economic activity yearly in Wisconsin.”[3]

We mentioned that bearings play a prominent role in all county and state fairs, just as agriculture does. What keeps the Ferris Wheels running? What holds together the displays? What ensures equipment and transmission reliability in the auto cars? What enables agricultural equipment to run properly in the harshest conditions? That’s right – bearings (most especially PEER bearings)! Bearings, specifically radial or mounted unit type bearings, are used in a variety of applications and play an important role in keeping everything running smoothly and efficiently.

So as you head out to your state fair, check here for some of the oldest and largest state fairs, make sure to take notice of all of the bearings around you!


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[1] http://content.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1916488_1921788,00.html

[2] http://www.nysfair.org/about-us/history/

[3] http://fox6now.com/2014/08/11/state-fair-2014-another-one-for-the-record-books-so-how-many-people-attended/

Our Bearings Keep the Food and Beverage Industry Cool

Whether it is a trip to the beach, hanging out poolside, or heading to a ball game, you are always looking for ways to keep cool in the summer months. The same goes for your food and drinks; you want to keep them as cold as possible. You might pack them in a cooler or keep a refrigerator close by. Even the food and beverage packaging companies analyze how best to preserve their products when faced with higher temperatures.[1]

Keeping items cool, however, is not the only item on board for food and beverage packagers. In fact, there are numerous initiatives taking place in this industry. The issue of sustainability, and finding packaging that meets all standards and is environmentally-friendly as well, is one of the hottest topics in packaging today. Companies are beginning to look at renewable packaging that leaves zero waste, as well as materials that are lighter in weight.[2] Bacardi also recently announced it is now using PET materials for its bottles, which are now recyclable. This cuts the packaging weight by 90%.[3]

The industry is also facing proposed legislation and regulations concerning certain contaminants in food packaging; specifically regarding BPA, as seen in this Plastics Today article. Manufacturers and packagers alike are looking at all steps of the production process in order to ensure the integrity of the products and industry standards are met.

This is where PEER Bearing steps in. Our stainless steel bearing units are corrosion resistant and FDA/USDA compliant, making them a perfect fit for the food and beverage industry. Used in various machines in the packaging production line (such as conveyor lines, bottling, etc), the bearings are designed for anti-contamination purposes, which is essential to food and beverage manufacturers. They come with either stainless or thermoplastic housings, depending on how harsh the environment. As this Food Production Daily article notes, it’s important that sustainability is a part of the entire production cycle. PEER is doing our part with our bearings.

When you are enjoying your cool food and drinks this summer, you know that they stayed cool – literally and figuratively—throughout the entire production process.


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[1] http://www.packworld.com/trends-and-issues/cold-chain/if-you-cant-stand-heat

[2] http://www.packworld.com/package-design/strategy/eight-drivers-todays-packaging-trends

[3] http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/Packaging/Beverage-packaging-reduction-increases-Bacardi-sustainability

PEER Bearing’s Products for Electrical Applications

Our company recently had the pleasure of exhibiting at the Electrical Apparatus Service Association’s 2014 convention and exhibition in Boston. The Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA) is an organization comprised of more than 1,900 electromechanical sales and service firms in 62 countries.  EASA is a great resource for PEER to stay current on the latest trends, technology, and equipment in the electrical and electromechanical field.  At this year’s show, we were able to attend various networking events, educational sessions, and exhibits.

 

To continue to provide our customers with the best possible experience, PEER manufactures and stocks an array of products catering towards the electrical industry with the application in mind. In electrical applications, low noise and vibration are primary considerations in bearing design and necessary for smooth bearing operation and long service life. To achieve this, PEER controls precision, accuracy, and finish of rolling surfaces during the manufacturing process.  Then we 100% certify the bearings as Electric Motor Quality (EMQ) to ensure they meet the strictest OEM requirements.

Our product portfolio includes a wide range of deep groove ball bearings with bore sizes up to 130mm, typical in higher HP electrical applications. The bearings we manufacture have many features and benefits that set us apart from the competition. PEER bearings are manufactured with high-quality, through hardened bearing steel, and precision grade 10 balls and are available in multiple seal and shield options to cover a wide range of electrical applications. PEER offers an array of greases for EM applications, including our standard Mobil Polyrex EM which covers most environments. When it comes to proper electrical bearings, we have you covered.

Bearings For All Seasons

It felt like it was never coming after this long winter, but lawn care and the cutting season is finally here. At the start of the season and as people begin working on their lawn, they may not think too much about the individual components that make up these complicated machines. But you can rest assured that if our maintenance-free bearings are being used in your lawn and garden equipment, it'll be a headache-free season.

We partner with manufacturers of both commercial and residential lawn equipment. Frequent customers like Toro and outdoor power tool manufacturer Acco Inc. know that they can come to us for high-quality, maintenance-free bearings that can stand up to the harshest conditions that high performance lawn and garden equipment will encounter. We make bearings for a full selection of outdoor equipment like mowers, chainsaws, and snow throwers, and we manufacture them in an array of different performance levels. We have the perfect bearing for your application. Our goal is to improve the productivity of farmers and landscapers everywhere by making high performance, environmentally-friendly solutions that can help reduce the cost of equipment maintenance and, even more importantly, the amount of downtime experienced.

You may be wondering how we do this. The secret is our TURFXTREME™ sealing solutions. We used our experience in the agricultural sector to develop technology that seals out water and clippings and protects the integrity of the seal when exposed to outside forces, like pressure washing. This technology helps equipment owners in a number of ways. Keeping out external contaminants will increase the life span of the equipment. In addition, with this technology in place, it's unlikely that your machines will need frequent maintenance. This means that the cost of owning the equipment will decline sharply. This is the eco-friendly, low-maintenance way to keep your lawn looking neat and green this season.

And while we're on the topic of green lawns, we want to mention a great initiative called TurfMutt. This program is the brainchild of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute and it offers a number of resources for educators and families. It's a great way for kids to learn how important the environment around them is, starting with their own lawn. Parents and teachers can check out the activities, puzzles, and educational videos on their website.

So when you need bearings, check out our product selection. We have the solutions that can reduce ownership costs and the need for maintenance, which will lead to some happy customers. Let us help make your product even better.

PEER Bearing Celebrates Sustainable Initiatives

Many companies are integrating sustainability strategies into their business pratices. This is something that has become prominent in the manufacturing industry recently. In fact, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) commits “to advancing sustainability efforts that positively impact manufacturing and industry’s contributions to environmental protection, economic performance, and the social well-being of the employees, communities, customers, and consumers they serve.” Here at PEER Bearing, we believe in a sustainable workplace, which is why we consider corporate social responsibility to be a vital piece of our business.

In recent years, we have adopted a number of sustainability initiatives throughout our business practices to reduce our carbon footprint. We recently opened a new heat treating facility, which features a salt bath heat treatment furnace that eliminates air pollutants and allows PEER to recycle the nitrate salt bath solution that we use to treat bearing rings. In our manufacturing facilities, we have been reducing our CO2 emissions by introducing more effective air compressors, reducing our electricity consumption, treating our own wastewater for reuse, and recycling 75% of our grinding fluid and swarf at our largest facility. 

In our North American office and warehouse, we recycle over 75% of the metal, paper, plastic, and wood materials used, AND we recycle 100% of all the oils and solvents used. We also regularly perform energy audits to help reduce our overall energy consumption. Finally, we have installed electric vehicle charging stations at our North American offices for employees who have switched to energy-efficient vehicles.

As a result of our commitment to sustainability practices, PEER has developed a growing line of agricultural bearings that do not require re-lubrication. This removes the need for farmers to re-grease bearings, which in turn results in a reduction of usage of petroleum-based products as well as the elimination of the environmental impact of additional purged grease into the farmers’ fields.

With Earth Day on April 22nd, it is a time to reflect on sustainability and just how you can integrate sustainable initiatives into your business. While we see Earth Day as a great reminder to be environmentally-conscious, we strive to be socially responsible every day of the year.

The Logistics of the Winter Olympics

Here at PEER, we’re looking forward to the coming excitement that is the winter Olympics!  Luge, skiing and snowboarding ice hockey – it’s always fun to watch the best in the world compete for the gold, and cheer our countrymen and women on.  We also have a particular sensitivity to the complex maze of operations that allow the games to happen, from a more logistical point of view.

Preparing the courses for skiers and snowboarders requires huge capacity for snow creation and movement – machines that depend on bearings to allow their blades to turn.  “Snowcats” are truck-sized trail-groomers that depend on treads to navigate the snowy slopes, and groom them for the athletes.  Preparing the ice rinks for skaters and hockey players means a smooth, level ice surface that only a commercial grade ice re-surfacer (popular referred to by the brand-name “Zamboni”) can provide.  These hulking machines also rely on precise function of an auger to scrape and remove the snow from the surface of the ice.

The athletes are not the only ones who benefit from such technology – off-highway transportation is a large part of the logistical challenge of not only the Olympics, but many outdoor winter events.  Snowmobiles and bus-like snowcats serve to cart people from place to place where vehicles with tires dare not tread.  Anything with axels and treads also relies on bearings to allow them to safely and efficiently transport people to remote places isolated from other forms of transport by snow.

It’s safe to say we’ll be watching and cheering for our winter athletes this year in Sochi.  We’re glad for both the skill of the athletes to amaze and entertain us, and the technology that prepares the courses and gets them where they need to go.

Coping With Winter Weather: Snow Removal

Winter is definitely here, as evidenced by the single-digit and sub-zero temperatures we’ve lately been experiencing here in the northern suburbs of Chicago, and across much of the country.  The farmer’s almanac was spot on this year when it predicted a cold and snowy winter.  At PEER, we’re grateful for the technology that provides us with efficient clothing, heating systems, and equipment to help us combat the effects of the cold.

For many consumers, this means graduating from the slow and labour-intensive (albeit effective) snow-shovel to the more lumbar-friendly snow-blower.  Whether your style is the more economical push-behind snow-thrower, or the no-holds-barred industrial-sized drivable snow-moving machines, it’s pretty likely you or your neighbor has invested in some kind of engine-powered snow removal system, and for good reason – the time saved alone makes it worth the expense, not to mention you can get back inside to your cup of steaming cocoa that much quicker.

Most snow blowers and throwers operate on the same basic principle – an auger or rotating blade collects the snow, and throws it out a chute directed to the side of the path.  Depending on the type, there may be a second spinning blade called an impeller to assist the auger in throwing the snow.  The belts and bearings that allow these blades to spin freely must be sufficiently capable of withstanding extremely cold operating temperatures, moisture content, and oxidation conditions that cold weather and snow create, in order to operate effectively.  These mechanisms not only make it convenient to access doors, sidewalks, and pathways, they make it safer in the slippery conditions of winter.  For commercial applications, safe sidewalks can mean better customer service, and reduce the risk of liability in the event of a slip and fall.

Check back here at our blog for more wintery wisdom and other industry conversation – and stay safe and warm this winter!