The Plimsoll Portfolio Analysis - Bearings is a comprehensive evaluation of the UK market. The revised and updated 2008 edition analyses the financial performance of the companies important to the success of your business. Using the most up to date information available, the analysis is ideal both as a tool to benchmark your own company's results and to study the market in more depth. Aimed at the busy manager, the Plimsoll Portfolio Analysis is both quick and easy to use thanks to the unique visual layout. The Analysis lays bare the performance of each company highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.

Each company page of analysis is also packed with the following information: Full business name and address, Names and ages of directors, contact details and website address, seven unique Plimsoll charts showing at a glance the performance of each company, averages for the industry are also shown indicating the bare minimum each company should be looking to achieve, and five years of the latest accounts available, New! Written summary on each company highlighting their key strengths and weaknesses.
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The Problem of Obsolete Bearings

Robin Kyte, Sales Manager at The Barden Corporation (UK) Ltd, explains why bearing obsolescence is so important when it comes to safety-critical applications such as aircraft systems and nuclear power plant applications. Locating and sourcing a supplier of an obsolete mechanical component such as a bearing, is a growing concern for many organisations, particularly if the component is part of a safety-critical system on an aircraft or nuclear power plant application. Sourcing a bearing for a mechanical system on a military aircraft, for example, can be a challenging process, particularly if the system is an ageing one.

The solution for the system operator is to find a bearing supplier who is able to manufacture the specified bearing to the same (or higher) quality standards as the original and who is also willing to supply in small batch sizes, anything between 10 and 500 units. Robin Kyte is a Sales Manager at Plymouth-based bearings manufacturer The Barden Corporation (UK) Ltd. The company manufactures a range of super precision angular contact and deep groove ball bearings. The focus is on special configuration bearings that add value and provide engineered solutions for the customer. In this scenario, many customers approach Barden because we are willing to manufacture direct replacement bearings in relatively small batch sizes and we have the manufacturing capability to produce special engineered bearings. Barden also have a strict non-obsolescence policy.”
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Solid Oil lubrication protects bearings

An innovation in lubrication, developed and manufactured by SKF, the leading knowledge engineering company, has been introduced to protect bearings that are used in particularly demanding applications, in areas where they cannot easily be relubricated, or where high levels of contamination can otherwise affect their operation. Called Solid Oil, the technology is contained within the normal bearing envelope and has no negative impact on performance or functionality, yet depending on the application it can significantly prolong operating life.

Solid Oil bearings are essentially sealed for life, using a conventional cage and rolling element arrangement that incorporates a specially developed oil-impregnated polymer material, which completely fills the internal voids within each bearing, leaving a narrow gap between rolling elements and raceways. The micro-porous structure of the polymer material holds up to four times more oil than a conventional grease-filled bearing, and allows oil to be released gradually around the moving internal surfaces, ensuring uniform and consistent lubrication for the operating life of each bearing. This construction offers a number of important benefits over conventional bearings. In particular, it enables oil to be dispersed evenly over the bearing surfaces regardless of operating temperature.
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Composite becoming the bearing of choice for cutter suction dredgers claims Thordon

Thordon Composite cutterhead shaft bearings have been recently installed or ordered on six cutter suction dredgers in Europe, China and the Middle East. Thordon Composite is a tough two-component elastomeric polymer alloy bearing specifically formulated to provide superior wear life in very abrasive water conditions. Thordon Composite bearings operating in combination with a hard stainless steel shaft or hard coated shaft liner such as Ni-Cr-B, routinely outwear rubber bearings by a factor of two or more, significantly reducing maintenance downtime and costs over the operating life of the dredge.

These bearings last longer than rubber bearings. We have installed Thordon Composite on CSD Pontos and CSD Aetos and plan to continue using Thordon Composite bearings and staves." National Marine Dredging Company in the UAE has also been using Thordon Composite dredge bearings since 1996 with installations on five of their dredgers. The recently built jumbo dredger, D'Artagnan, owned by Société De Dragage International, France, also has water lubricated Thordon Composite intermediate lineshaft bearings installed in addition to the Composite cutterhead shaft bearings.
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Thermoplastic Housings Feature Stainless Steel Bearings

Thermoplastic housings with stainless bearings are just one of the new products featured in Rino Industries latest 848 page mechanical drive components' catalogue. This product has been added to the bearings range already offered by the precision engineered component's specialist, in order to further enhance the range on offer. The pillow block is made from a high quality, high-grade glass-filled thermoplastic polyester which is white in colour. The grease nipples and bearing are both stainless steel and the grease is food grade as standard making it ideal for those hygienic and clean-room environments. They are resistant to chemicals with an easily cleaned smooth surface and no coating or plating to crack or chip. It is made to suit shaft sizes 12mm to 35mm and is one of eight housing types available. Also available with economy insert bearings where required, just ask sales for a quote on price and availability.