5 Reasons Why you Should Switch to Sealed Spherical Bearings

Few components match the strength and durability of Spherical Roller Bearings (SRB’s). Designed to handle heavy loads and cope with misalignment, they’re a staple in demanding industries like mining, construction, and material handling. But even the best components can be let down by a common enemy: contamination.

In real-world conditions - where dust, moisture, debris and vibration are everyday facts of life – traditional open or shielded bearings can struggle. Over time, contaminants work their way in, and grease works its way out. This makes bearings fail sooner than expected, leading to unplanned downtime, frequent, costly maintenance, and potential safety hazards.

If you’ve had to halt operations just to reach an awkwardly placed bearing for relubrication (or worse, to replace one that failed too soon) you know the headache. It’s not just the time or cost; it’s the knock-on effect across your operations. In industries where reliability is everything, this simply isn’t sustainable.

This is where sealed spherical roller bearings, like SKF’s sealed SRB’s, come in. They give you all the benefits of standard SRB’s, while actively tackling the problem of contamination.

Here’s how:

1. Improved reliability

Sealed spherical bearings are built to offer consistent performance across a wide range of operating conditions. The integrated seals lock out dirt and moisture, helping you avoid the unexpected breakdowns that disrupt production. Sealed SRB’s provide consistency in environments where it may not always be guaranteed.

2. Maintenance-free operation

These bearings are lubricated for life, meaning no more regular greasing schedules or hard-to-reach maintenance tasks. This means less time spent on upkeep, and more time keeping things running smoothly.

3. Cleaner, safer work environment

Fewer grease points mean fewer leaks, and fewer breakdowns means less maintenance tasks. That helps maintain cleaner equipment and floors, reducing slip hazards and other safety risks. With reduced overall maintenance, workers aren’t required to carry out tasks in hard-to-reach areas.

4. Extended service life

The built-in seals prevent dirt, water, and debris from entering the bearing. This reduces wear and corrosion leading to longer operational life compared to open or relubricated bearing designs.

5. Lower total cost of ownership

While the initial cost of sealed bearings may be slightly higher, but the savings in maintenance, downtime, and replacements far outweigh the initial investment. Especially when bearings are in potentially heard-to-reach places, are leaking grease, and requiring frequent relubrication.

If you’re tired of unexpected failures, endless maintenance, or lubrication issues, switching to a sealed spherical bearing is a simple but powerful step in the right direction. If you need help finding the right sealed bearing for your application, just ask our Bearing Product Expert for assistance.