Subscribe to our 

Pumps play a critical role in the water industry. Improved water treatment and distribution technologies are critical to the Earth’s future. Nearly 75% of the Earth’s fresh water is for irrigation in agriculture. Coupled with future population growth, pump and system technologies and services are critical to the future.

Currently, over a billion people in the world lack access to safe drinking water. In the United States, news agencies regularly report the challenges associated with water treatment, and in particular, availability and distribution of water in the southwest.

Maintenance, upgrades to existing water systems and new projects will drive the expansion for pump and system products and services. New pump and system technologies exist and continue to be developed. The latest technologies are needed to revitalize older water systems that may have been in service for the past 10, 20, or 30 plus years, as well as being implemented in new capital projects for water systems. Advanced pump and system technologies are needed to create the most efficient systems and address current and future capacity needs, while also keeping operational costs down and addressing environmental needs.

Advanced bearing technologies exist that dramatically extend bearing life beyond theoretical convention. Leading edge bearing technologies can significantly extend pump life, as well as solve difficult pump application challenges. Advances in bearing steel, heat treatment technology, and bearing geometry and component design provide opportunities to extend the reliable operation of pumps, even in the most severe environments. The result is reduced pump maintenance, fewer warranty concerns and extended pump operation.  Advanced pump bearings are the right choice to bring industrial applications in the water industry into the 21^st century by providing pumps and systems with the highest quality bearings for superior reliability in mission critical applications.

It is vital to work with a bearing partner that provides advanced bearing technologies, services, solutions, and application know-how to assist in making a pump a 21^st century market leading product in the water industry.

You can reach Mark at wolkam@nsk-corp.com.  For US engineering assistance, please contact Miles Woodard at 734-913-7494.

Feel free to visit the NSK North American website for more company and technical information at www.us.nsk.com.

Manufacturers are being driven by evolving legislation and a global conscience for eco-friendly products. By coordinating economy and ecology in their manufacturing operations, manufacturers can minimize their carbon footprint, which might be a vital component for survival in the 21^st century.

Manufacturers now select materials, coatings, lubricants, etc. that are recyclable or have a low environmental load.  Manufacturers also design manufacturing and assembly processes to minimize scrap and maximize yield, which is needed to be lean and reduce waste.  End users must properly size and operate pumps in an efficient manner to reduce energy consumption and maximize service life.  Performing valuable predictive and preventative maintenance is also important, especially for the bearing system.  It is better to replace a pump bearing or seal than having to replace an entire pump assembly prematurely or risk allowing harmful matter into the environment.

In Pumps & System’s October issue, “The Submersible Pumps Market in North America” states a few compelling factors that support growth, one of which is that aging and existing treatment plants will need to be upgraded in the near future.  Now is a good time to review pump designs with bearing engineers, who can suggest new, innovative technologies to considerably extend life and markedly reduce maintenance events. Reduced maintenance can significantly diminish oils and other environmentally unfavorable byproducts to disburse into the environment. Upgrading also ensures that the pump bearings have no carcinogenic compounds, coatings, and use biodegradable greases that easily decompose.

Pump manufacturers can take advantage of sophisticated design and material technologies when designing the bearing system.  Bearing technologies exist to reduce friction and can dramatically extend pump bearing life by using specialty steels, heat treatments, and surface finish textures developed from advanced bearing tribology research.  Advanced bearing technology equates to less energy consumption for the equivalent work.  Pump engineers working closely with bearing engineers can maximize efficiencies and minimize noise, vibration, and mechanical losses.  Dramatic pump bearing advances continue to be made for performance, reliability, extended life for ecology, and economy.

This does take extra effort, but apart from making your competition green with envy, one can be proud of efforts made to contribute to your pump being green.

Next time I will describe bearings associated with the growing global need for pumps in the water industry.  Feel free to visit the NSK North American website for more company and technical information at http://www.us.nsk.com/.

*In September, the 2008 list of The 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World was unveiled.  See the list here.  NSK Corporation’s parent company, NSK Limited, made the list.  Read the article here.

Hello, Pumps & Systems readers. My name is Mark Wolka and I am a Product Engineer with NSK Corporation. I work at the Americas’ Headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I will be training at our Fujisawa Technical Center (F-TEC) in Japan for the next 1 ½ years. The intention of this blog is to provide insight into bearings for pump and compressor applications from what I learn in my experience in Japan.  First, I would like give you further background on me.

NSK F-TEC is the primary location where research and development for numerous NSK technologies has taken place in our 90+ years of developing and manufacturing bearings. While at F-TEC, I will be learning advanced bearing design for pump and compressor rolling element bearings.  This encompasses tribology, material engineering, and analysis technology of these bearing products for pump and compressor applications. I will receive hands-on experience with bearing failure analysis, advanced manufacturing techniques, and application specific product testing. I will visit many NSK facilities in addition to plants and factories of other Japanese companies as part of my training.  During my time here, I will also have the opportunity to enjoy the local culture in Japan.

I would greatly appreciate any questions or feedback you may have, as well as suggestions for topics you would like to hear about in future communications.  Please email me at wolkam@nsk-corp.com. 

Feel free to visit our North American website for more company and technical information at www.us.nsk.com.