Bearings: How chrome steel can fight the beast of climate change

Chris Johnson explains how industry can use advanced chrome bearings to go green and, at the same time, reduce electrical consumption

Reducing your carbon footprint is like a marathon: dedication and discipline will only get you so far. To get first place, you will need to be efficient in every step you take. 

Similarly, businesses must strive to be efficient to meet tighter goals to reduce CO2 emissions. 

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), around 30% of global electricity is consumed by electric motors in industry. 

Furthermore, motors are the asset that consume the most electricity in manufacturing, accounting for 70% of global electricity in the industry. 

From this, we can calculate that an around 0.1% reduction in industry consumption could save enough electricity to sustain the UK for almost a month.

ABB Group has found, using IEA data, that 51% of all motor failures are related to their bearings. The common causes for these failures include exceeding recommended load ratings, vibrations and overheating. 

Choosing the right bearing for a motor can not only reduce the change of failures; it can also bring down a business’s emissions and maintenance costs.

No universal fit

There is no one-size-fits-all for bearings. AISI-440 grade stainless steel small motor bearings can sustain temperatures of up to 300˚C, which makes them ideal for machinery that operates under high heat. 

However, the same process that allows the stainless steel to obtain these properties will also soften the metal. This makes the internal components more susceptible to physical damage.

Chrome steel small motor bearings are not only less expensive, but are also better suited for most applications. They have low-noise and low-vibration properties that make them less wasteful in applications below 150˚C.

While some situations may require the superior anti-corrosion properties of stainless steel, most industries will benefit from the more efficient chrome steel alternative.

Vibration and noise can also be caused by exceeding the recommended payloads of a motor.

Fortunately, chrome steel has 20% higher load rating than 440C grade stainless steels so these symptoms of failure less likely to occur. Higher load ratings are also associated with longer life cycles, and therefore lower maintenance costs.

Win-win scenario

Choosing chrome steel bearings is not only likely to be more effective than 440C stainless steels, it is also less expensive in the short and long term.

The energy converted in noise and vibration is lost, resulting in further wasted time and energy for downtime and motor repairs.

Electricity wasted on poorly-matched motors and bearings prevents your company from being environmentally-friendly. That’s why selecting a bearing that can sustain the loads it is subjected to can drastically increase the product’s lifetime while reducing the energy that is thrown away. In the long run, we will need to be as efficient as possible about energy consumption.

Just like in marathons, dedication and effort alone will not get you the best time. Efficiency is key, which also applies if businesses are to help save the climate and also reduce costs.

Chris Johnson, is managing director of SMB Bearings.