GGB Bearing Technology (USA; a division of EnPro Industries; formerly Glacier Garlock Bearings; 5251R9N7) has developed and is introducing an entirely new product line, moving into fluid film bearings.

By adding fluid film bearings, GGB is leveraging its position as the world's largest manufacturer of prelubricated and self-lubricating metal-polymer plain bearings. GGB has production facilities in the United States, Germany, France, Slovakia, Brazil and India, along with operating units in two dozen other countries.

GGB said it expects all of its bearing product lines to be complementary in the marketplace.

Fluid film, or hydrodynamic, bearings employ a thin film of pressurized lubricant between two precision bearing surfaces. Under normal operating conditions, there is no direct surface-to-surface contact, which means fluid film bearings are low maintenance, have extremely long service life, and tend to have an inherent damping effect for quiet, smooth operation.

An example of where fluid film bearings have displaced traditional rolling element bearings is in computer disk drives. Several years ago, the need for higher precision, higher rotational speed and better life expectancy for computer disk drives ran up against the inherent limitations of miniature precision ball bearings. Moving to fluid film bearings removed many of the limitations, and now disk drives are more reliable, spin faster, have more precise location for higher storage density, develop less heat, and are quieter. And as manufacturing technology and volume developed, fluid film bearings rapidly became less expensive than the miniature ball bearings they replaced.

GGB said its fluid film bearing applications are expected to be primarily for use in large electrical generators, electric motors, turbines, pumps, and compressors. In those applications, large fluid film bearings are designed to replace traditional roller bearings. Fluid film bearings are particularly well suited to applications where high speeds are combined with high loads.

The example application GGB is highlighting is its XGNFB 56-670 pedestal bearing. It is installed in a 190-metric-ton 22,000 kilowatt synchronous electric motor used in a steel rolling mill. This particular bearing has a hydrostatic (maintaining bearing clearance and performance while stationary vs. hydrodynamic) jacking system, is electrically insulated from the motor itself, employs natural cooling and a fixed oil ring lubrication arrangement.

GGB said its fluid film bearing lineup will eventually extend to pedestal, mid-flange and end-flange configurations. They meet all DIN/ISO standards, and will eventually be available in ID (shaft) sizes from 55mm through 1,400mm. Mounting frames will be 7 through 112. Beyond the standard sizes, GGB said it will be able to manufacture specialty fluid film bearings for thrust blocks, radial inserts, and axial inserts.