At LH Travis, we understand the pressure companies are under to keep costs low while maintaining a high level of productivity. There are many ways to cut costs, with some being better ideas than others. Opting for remanufactured bearings over brand new ones is a trend that has been growing lately. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons.
New or Used Bearings?
First off, it takes about 100 process steps to create a new bearing, while it only takes about 10 steps to produce a remanufactured bearing. You can see right there that the remanufactured bearing is going to cost less because less energy and raw materials are going into its production.
Not all bearings can be remanufactured, however. It needs to have more than 30 percent of its service life still remaining, and then it will go through a careful inspection. The bearing will be disassembled, cleaned, and degreased, then inspected visually, microscopically, and dimensionally. It is also tested for its performance.
The data collected will be analyzed to determine what exactly needs to be refurbished or remanufactured on that bearing. There are a number of classifications that a bearing can fall into at this stage, depending on how much repair work needs to be completed to bring the piece of equipment back up to appropriate standard.
As the bearing is receiving its remanufacturing care, engineers can make adjustments to improve the bearing’s efficiency, performance, or properties, thereby making it actually better than it was when new.
It’s important to keep in mind, however, that not all bearings are suitable for the remanufacturing process. For example, larger bearings are good candidates; smaller bearings are not.
So while remanufacturing bearings can be one way to lower equipment costs, you’d need to make sure the choice is right for you and your needs.
LH Travis Is a Trusted Source
At LH Travis, we’re not here to sell you equipment you don’t need every time you call us. We’re here to make sure you get the right equipment and accessories for your requirements, every time.
