Anti-Friction Bearings reduce noise and maintenance.
Press Release Summary:
X-Life(TM) products include 4 types of bearings. E1 spherical-roller bearings feature optimized surface finishes and bearing and roller geometries. Angular-contact ball bearings are manufactured with brass, TVP, or pressed steel cages, while SL series cylindrical-roller bearings are available with brass or plastic cages. KUVE and RUE ball and roller monorail guidance systems, suited for dynamic traverse motion and positioning motion, help provide long-term mechanical accuracy.
Original Press Release:
X-Life(TM) from INA/FAG Setting New Standards for Anti-Friction Bearings and Related Services
DANBURY, CT, August 3, 2004 - INA & FAG, both part of The Schaeffler Group, are introducing a new line of X-Life(TM) anti-friction bearings which is the result of the experience, innovation and problem solving capabilities of both companies. The merging of these two industry leaders combines decades of core competency engineering expertise with comprehensive, wide-ranging industry-specific knowledge to offer this next generation of product, X-Life.
The X-Life program brings a new level of benchmarking standards to rolling bearings, providing intelligent cost-effective motion solutions for a wide variety of bearing applications. Advancements like better roller and raceway finishes, improved kinematics, special materials and other innovative techniques give X-Life products a number of significant advantages. The results have meant lower noise, reduced maintenance and higher load capacity. For machinery owners, this translates to more up-time and lower costs. X-Life products are already surpassing special customer expectations.
X-Life Products From FAG and INA
E1 Spherical Roller Bearings
FAG E1 spherical roller bearings offer customers increased performance, cost savings and unrivaled operational reliability. Their 17% increase in load carrying capacity has enabled them to offer an increase in basic rating life by a full 70% without a price premium. The E1 permits high speeds and very high load carrying capacity through improved surface finishes and optimization of the bearing and roller geometry.
Angular Contact Ball Bearings
Facing high axial forces, high speeds and high temperature, FAG angular contact ball bearings offer improved surface structure and significantly better performance and application versatility. Brass, TVP or pressed steel cages have dramatically improved operating life - with an average increase of 15% in basic dynamic load rating.
Cylindrical Roller Bearings
INA X-Life SL series cylindrical bearings, with optimized design and surface characteristics of rollers and raceways, offer up to 50%-70% increase in calculated life and a 13% increase in dynamic load rating compared to standard SL series bearings. FAG X-Life quality cylindrical roller bearings with brass or plastic cages offer an 18% increase in basic load ratings and a 70% life increase.
Monorail Guidance Systems
INA's linear technology has raised the bar in performance, precision and reduced maintenance with its X-Life generation of KUVE and RUE ball and roller monorail guidance systems. In addition to significantly higher accelerations and higher speeds for dynamic traverse motion and positioning motion, INA linear systems are meeting the increasing demand for long term mechanical accuracy, compact construction, minimum maintenance and extremely low running noise levels.
More Than Product Improvements
Although one of the objectives of X-Life is to offer increased reliability and bearing quality that far exceed anything on the market today, X-Life is more than a program of improved product performance. Rather, it is clearly the industry's first comprehensive system of integral solutions, taking into account not only improved product characteristics, but all of the parameters that are crucial for a problem-free life cycle. This includes training programs for proper assembly and optimum maintenance intervals, appropriate lubricants and lubrication methods, proprietary online "Bearinx" engineering software and sector-specific expertise from INA & FAG to better understand what works best for the customer.
Beyond Quality and Reliability
Literally, X-Life can be defined as a strategy that brings together a wide range of innovative concepts and methodologies that extend the life and enhance the value of bearings in a wide variety of vehicle, machinery and equipment engineering applications. It encompasses all parameters that play critical roles during a product's life cycle, from low noise levels, high load performance, easy maintenance, and longer life to faster response times, improved logistics and innovative techniques for resolving operational problems.
INA and FAG say that the uniqueness of X-Life stems from its focus on what customers want and need in their specific applications. By taking a fully comprehensive view of performance requirements, X-Life takes into consideration peripherals like mounting tools, better bearing selection and calculation, improved processing methods and increased reliability. And another X-Life benefit is that the program grows with a customer's requirements, so customers benefit from new developments, like advancements in the field of kinematics, improved manufacturing methods and better materials.
Rocco Docimo, Manager of Engineering, FAG: "The level of quality and performance that X-Life will offer is the result of INA and FAG merging their unmatched strength and expertise in this industry and their ability to transfer knowledge from one to the other. Benchmark tests are proving that we will be offering products that have no equal, and that our customers will be getting the best bearing on the market at a terrific price/performance ratio."
