Reclamation Industries
Metal Processing
Bearings, particularly grooved and roller varieties, play an essential role in metal processing, supporting applications such as wire forming and metal recycling. These industries are integral to manufacturing as they enable the creation of new products with reduced reliance on raw materials. Metal recycling provides a sustainable means of producing raw metal by converting used and scrap metals, while wire forming facilitates the creation of customized components for various applications. Both processes rely on specialized equipment and high-quality bearing solutions to ensure efficiency and optimal performance.
Both metal recycling and wire forming require precision equipment supported by bearings that facilitate movement and direction in load-bearing and process applications. In wire forming, bearings such as grooved bearings, straighteners, and cam followers assist with wire manipulation and profile direction. Grooved bearings feature custom grooves that enhance wire forming operations, while straighteners eliminate irregularities and cast memory in metal. Cam followers create linear motion from rotary motion, further streamlining the process.
In metal recycling, durable and low-maintenance bearings are essential for withstanding heavy loads and high shocks. Cylindrical bearings, characterized by their long, cylindrical rollers, are well-suited for heavy loads, while spherical roller bearings are designed to handle shaft misalignment and deflection. Their robust construction and ease of assembly make them indispensable in recycling operations.
Plastic Processing and Forming
Plastic processing and forming rely on a variety of bearings, including roller, linear, and thrust ball bearings, to facilitate the movement of machine parts in ejector shafts, extrusion gearboxes, injection systems, mold clamping, and press cylinders. This industry is crucial for producing components used in a wide range of sectors, from consumer products to medical devices, as the demand for plastic components continues to grow. Plastic processing converts raw materials into finished products, often requiring additional steps to complete production. To meet increasing demand without compromising quality, manufacturers aim to enhance the output and productivity of plastic extruder machines and gearboxes by utilizing the appropriate bearings.
The plastics industry primarily operates with two types of machinery: extruders and molding machines. Extruders process plastic by pushing it through a nozzle into a die, with gearboxes in these machines enduring high torques and radial and axial loads. Injection molding machines, on the other hand, produce parts in large volumes. These machines require screw feeds and linear bearings capable of withstanding heat and vibration while maintaining high static and dynamic load ratings.
Various types of bearings are commonly employed in plastic processing for extrusion and molding applications. These include rod ends, cam followers, mounted units, roller bearings, and thrust ball bearings. Injection molding machines specifically use bearings such as ball screws, thrust ball bearings, and linear bearings in critical components like the injection cylinder, mold clamping cylinder, ejector shaft, and plasticization unit. Ball screws handle high-load drives in challenging environments, thrust ball bearings support both thrust and radial loads while resisting shocks and misalignment, and linear bearings operate at high speeds without overheating.
Electrically driven extrusion molding machines have become increasingly popular due to their accuracy, cleanliness, and energy efficiency. However, these machines subject bearings to harsher conditions, including low lubrication, suboptimal melting conditions, and low heat generation. Bearings in this industry must endure heavy loads, dynamic peak loads, high rigidity, and extreme heat to function effectively.
The key components of extrusion machines where these bearings are used include the injection cylinder, mold clamping cylinder, ejector shaft, press cylinder, and extrusion gearbox. Plastic processing is a highly precise and fast-paced operation, necessitating the use of specialized bearings to maintain quality and performance. The bearings in extrusion and injection molding machines enable them to handle intense conditions, ensuring the production of high-quality products and devices that meet market demands.
Wastewater Treatment
The continuous operation of pumps, drives, and valves in wastewater treatment plants demand bearings and rollers of the highest quality, whether they are made of chrome, stainless steel, or engineered thermoplastic materials. The industrial wastewater treatment industry focuses on the cleaning and purification of wastewater produced by industrial companies.
Bearings are indispensable components in industrial wastewater treatment; they are integral to the functioning of various processing and treatment machines, including drives, pumps, and valves. To meet the demands of these operations, wastewater treatment facilities require high-quality bearings capable of maintaining efficiency and reliability under diverse application requirements.
Ceramic and stainless-steel bearings are commonly used in this sector due to their resistance to corrosion and the absence of lubrication requirements. Another popular option is split roller pillow block bearings, which offer the advantages of traditional bearings but are easier to assemble, inspect, and replace. Their two-part design allows maintenance to be performed without dismantling other assembly elements.
Bearings find applications across numerous fluid-handling devices and systems in wastewater treatment facilities. Common examples include pumps, drives, valves, flowmeters, and hydraulic equipment. Bearings from QBC Bearings are specifically designed to meet the stringent demands of these systems, ensuring long-lasting performance and operational efficiency.
