GLYNWED AB is, together with their sister company FRIATEC AG, a leading manufacturer of ceramic products. Besides their wide spectra of ceramic products for engineering applications, high temperature ceramics and electro ceramics, GLYNWED has had a co-operation with the German company CEROBEAR GmbH for many years. Cerobear develops, constructs and produces ceramic ball and roller bearings for extreme applications.

Cerobear ceramic bearings make it possible to apply roller bearings in a variety of circumstances. Cerobear ceramic bearings offer new application opportunities, especially in extreme technical domains, which have been inaccessible up until now.

The inner and outer rings of the bearings are made of high-performance ceramics such as silicon nitride or zirconium oxide. The rolling elements are also made of silicon nitride. For the production of cages and gaskets a variety of materials, such as PEEK or PI, are available.

Cerobear ceramic bearings set themselves apart through the following characteristics:

  • High corrosion resistance
  • Qualified for extreme temperatures
  • Qualified for dry running conditions
  • Low weight
  • Absolutely non-magnetic
  • Qualified for media- and starved lubrication
  • High stiffness
  • High reliability
  • Low abrasion
  • Low operating costs

Cerobear ceramic bearings are manufactured in ISO- measurements or customised designs according to your needs.

Some examples of applications:

Hydrogen high pressure pumps run Cerobear ceramic-cylindrical rollers for the space shuttle under the following parameters:

Performance: 75,000hp
Speed: 36,200rpm
Pitch-ø: 106mm
Characteristic speed: 3,8 Mio. mm x min -1

Lubrication: H2-fluidic ( -253°C)

The demand for germfree production processes in the food and packaging industry is on the increase. The trend towards PET- or rather PP- and HDPE packaging in the beverage industry is still growing and therefore makes aseptic filling methods indispensable.

Since the necessary grease- and oil lubricant of standard bearings should not lead to contamination of the process room, the rolling bearing construction becomes the centre of attention. Furthermore, leaks in steel bearings not only lead to loss of lubrication and thus a breakdown of the bearing, but also to an increase in germ formation. The open bearing option of Cerobear roller bearings makes the cleaning and disinfecting of the bearings through superheated steam possible and e.g. acetic acid connections possible and the demand for sterility fulfilled.

Cerobear roller bearings are ideal for lubrication with process media in dry running conditions, in aseptic usage and under clean room conditions, as well as in many other applications in which steel bearings under increasing demands are no longer adequate enough.

The raw materials generated by the chemical industry are not only important for the manufacture of daily products but also constitute important building blocks for industrial production. Cerobear roller bearings can be used for the production of low density polyethylene (LDPE). This raw material is used for the production of locks, foils for coating, extrusion coating for complex packaging, shopping bags etc. As a result, Cerobear hybrid roller bearings support the functioning of several agitators and motors in polyethylene reactions worldwide. Thereby, the process medium is an important lubricating aid at temperatures of 200°C.

Through the use of Cerobear roller bearings the durability can be significantly increased while avoiding unnecessary halts in production. Cerobear roller bearings make it possible to follow planned equipment revisions. This is a vital component for the overall process in regards to equipment availability and the potential savings over the life cycle of different reactors. Furthermore, Cerobear offers full ceramic bearing solutions for a variation of chemical processes. These solutions function under the most adverse conditions and can withstand extremely aggressive process media.

These were just some examples of how ceramic ball and roller bearings can improve products and processes in the industry. For further information please contact GLYNWED AB, Spånga – Stockholm.