Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Launches Its Norglide Composite Bearings Solutions

The company has been developing low-friction, wear-resistant Norglide composite bearings to help manufacturers in the US minimise maintenance requirements for their pump technology for many years and is now extending its offering to the UK and Germany as well as Asian markets, such as China. Self-lubricating and wear-resistant, Saint-Gobain’s technology ensures friction control within pump applications throughout the long life of the mechanism. Norglide composite bearings also help European manufacturers comply with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions standards, such as the European Union’s (EU) Stage IIIB by helping to reduce fuel consumption during pump operation.

Composed of a self-lubricating liner of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) on a laminated metal backing, Norglide composite bearings maintain smooth movement between the shaft of piston pumps and the outer housing. PTFE can tolerate operating temperatures of up to 260° Celsius while the laminated metal backing can withstand the high stresses experienced within pump applications. The use of specialised filler compounds within the PTFE liner minimises wear, offering consistent maintenance-free composite bearing performance throughout the lifetime of the pump.

Standards currently in place in Europe and the US require manufacturers to achieve a 90 per cent reduction in emissions of particulate matter along with a 50 per cent cut in the discharge of nitrogen oxides (NOx). New regulations, including the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 and the EU Stage IV, due to be introduced in 2014 and fully implemented by 2015, stipulate that manufacturers should lower NOx emissions by a further 80 per cent.

The smooth movement offered by the PTFE reduces the energy required to rotate the mechanism’s drive, decreasing fuel consumption and enhancing energy efficiency. Norglide composite bearings’ split-ring design is smaller and lighter than traditional solutions for pump applications, allowing manufacturers to shrink the footprint of their pumps and to use smaller, more efficient motors for further reduction in fuel consumption. This supports pump manufacturers CO2 emissions reduction efforts for compliance with these standards.

Global Market Manager Industrial at Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, Ed Rumble said, “Our Norglide composite bearings have developed a reputation for reliability in North America, supporting our customers’ efforts to reduce time-consuming maintenance and comply with increasingly stringent emissions standards. Now manufacturers in Europe and Asia can benefit from our expertise in maximising the efficiency of hydraulic pumps and lowering the total cost of ownership of their products”.