No second chances

Use a trusted supplier to ensure ATEX compliance.

There aren't too many manufacturing, production or processing situations where, if something goes wrong, you can't put it right next time. True, it may mean some downtime, some lost production, some unforeseen costs - but sooner or later those can all be recouped. One manufacturer in the ERIKS portfolio is NSK, which produces bearings for Petrochemical applications.

One way to remove risk is to use a supplier with extensive experience of ATEX legislation, a wide range of products to suit all requirements for hazardous atmospheres, and in-depth expertise of repair and maintenance of such equipment. ERIKS, for example, can not only supply equipment from manufacturers such as NSK, Econosto, Brook Compton, Flir and Fenaflex, but also has the know-how and resources to carry out fully ATEX-compliant repairs.

One manufacturer in the ERIKS portfolio is NSK, which produces bearings for applications. This is an industry where demanding and hostile environments are the norm, and exposure of bearings to heat, chemicals, oils and gases is routine. In these situations, increasing Mean Time Between Failures for critical equipment such as centrifugal pumps, air and gas compressors, blowers and ventilators is difficult, but a sure-fire way of reducing operating costs. NSK's bearing solutions are the answer.

The NSK EM/EW cylindrical roller and HPS™ series of angular contact bearings are examples of NSK's bearings with higher levels of heat tolerance, chemical stability and increased load-carrying capacity, which makes them an ideal choice for the helical rotors used in gas and air compressors in the petrochemical industry. Compared with conventional bearings, the basic dynamic load rating on the cylindrical roller bearings has been improved by up to 30%, and on the HPS bearings by up to 20% - meaning significant improvements in fatigue life, longer trouble-free operation and extended intervals between overhauls.

Centrifugal pumps can also benefit from NSK's bearing expertise, with the HR series of high-capacity, deep-groove ball bearings. The special internal design of these ball bearings enables them to deliver 7-9% increased dynamic load ratings (depending on size), which equates to a 22-68% increase in ISO life. That means an improved pump operating life and minimised downtime. Pump performance can be additionally enhanced by NSK's Anti-Creep bearings. Designed to allow the installation of O-rings in the two grooves on the bearing's outer ring, these bearings are a far better solution to creep - preventing its occurrence and the subsequent damage to the pump shaft - than the more common interference fit between bearing and housing.

For exceptionally tough petrochemical pumping tasks, NSK has developed the SPACEA LNG series bearings, which are designed for use in pumping liquid nitrogen gas (LNG). Operating at speeds up to 3600rpm while immersed in the gas at -162°C, the bearings are lubricated by the cryogenic agent itself, which has a viscosity almost 100 times lower than normal lubricating oil.

If you operate in the petrochemical industry, by choosing these specially developed NSK bearing solutions from ERIKS you can expect a much longer mean time between failures for your critical equipment - leaving you free to concentrate on productivity and profitability, regardless of the hostile environment which is your day-to-day reality.