Our Company > Latest news

06/02/12

RKB attends World of Industry 2012

World of Industry (WIN) is one of the most important exhibitions in the manufacturing industry in whole of Eurasian region. Under the coordination of our CRM Director for the Asia and Middle East area, RKB Turkey, the Turkish branch of the RKB Bearing Industries Group, attended with its own booth the last edition of this mega-event. Like in all previous editions, the first part of WIN 2012 revealed once again the strong interest of both domestic and foreign visitors in the value-added rolling bearings manufactured by RKB.

31/01/12

RKB releases updated guide for mounting and maintenance of multi-row roller bearings

The Technical Department of the RKB Group has newly updated its technical guide dealing with the procedures for mounting and maintaining multi-row tapered and cylindrical roller bearing assemblies, which are mostly used on roll necks of rolling mill stands. The document is available for download under the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

RKB Publications

26/01/12

RKB develops new special project with WOR bearings

The RKB Group has successfully developed and manufactured a new design spherical roller bearing with wider outer ring (WOR) for the gearbox of a concrete mixer. Among other things, this special bearing type has been optimized through Finite Element Analysis to sustain additional loads and friction at low operating speeds (max 20 rpm), increase permissible misalignment up to ±6° and extend rating life. Further details on this project can be found in the “Special Projects” section of this Web Site.



RKB Special Projects

12/01/12

Acquired new high-precision CNC vertical lathes for big size bearings

RKB T3 Plant signs a new contract with a world leading CNC manufacturer for the purchase of high-precision CNC vertical lathes (1000 Series) particularly suitable for the production of big size radial and thrust spherical roller bearings. Thanks to the latest technology of these premium quality machine tools, RKB can implement a revolutionary manufacturing concept to obtain remarkable benefits in terms of micro-geometry and process efficiency.

16/12/11

RKB launches 3.175 mm bore diameter deep groove ball bearings

The RKB Group has freshly enriched its product range of small size and miniature ball bearings (T1 Segment) by the introduction of its 60/3.175 ZZ ball bearings endowed with a 1/8’’ (3.175 mm) inner diameter. The dimensions of this bearing were specifically devised to be suitable for small electric motors of home appliances.

13/12/11

RKB supports childhood education in developing countries

Thanks to the contribution of its employees and customers, also this year the RKB Group supports the Child Guardian program of Save the Children, the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need around the world. The Child Guardian program aims at encouraging more children to attend preschool, increase school capacity, and provide more child-centred teacher training. RKB strongly believes in the importance of education and scholarship as the most effective means to help children worldwide have a better future.

Child Guardian - Save the Children

12/12/11

Republished technical article on RKB wind turbine rolling bearings

Power Transmission World magazine (November issue) republished the technical article entitled “Developments in Wind Turbine Rolling Bearings” that briefly illustrates the latest advancements in the sector of rolling bearings for wind turbines and the solutions developed by RKB in the renewable energy sector. The knowledge gained over the years as well as the leading-edge manufacturing technology used in its manufacturing facilities make of RKB the ideal partner to satisfy the most demanding requirements in the wind industry. The article can be downloaded from the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

RKB Publications

09/12/11

RKB publishes new documents for Russian speaking customers

In order to serve better its Russian speaking customers, the RKB Bearing Industries Group has freshly released the new versions of its “Brief Company Profile”, “Why RKB - We make things easier!“, “Victory Line: the Step Forward”, “Products Table”, “Company Snapshot” and its leaflets collection translated into Russian language. All these documents are now available for download under the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

RKB Publications

06/12/11

RKB releases new technical posters for mounting/dismounting of TQO/TQOS and multiroll bearings

In light of its long-standing on-field experience and technical know-how, the RKB Bearing Industries Group has recently renewed the technical posters illustrating the best practices for mounting and dismounting four-row tapered roller bearings and multiroll bearings of rolling mill machinery. The posters thoroughly show the steps necessary to mount/dismount the bearings and offer a series of technical recommendations and hints. The documents can be directly downloaded from the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

RKB Publications

22/11/11

RKB invites to read new 12th and 13th recommendation to customers

The collection of recommendations developed by RKB enhances with two new hints. The 12th recommendation suggests to be always sure that the inspections carried out by the bearing manufacturer and the related technical reports are in accordance with EN 10204:2004 standard. The recommendation number 13, instead, recommends to purchase RKB bearings only from authorized sources that can exhibit the official Certificate of Appointment released by the main branch of the RKB Group of Switzerland.

RKB Recommendations

21/11/11

RKB launches deep groove ball bearings with flanged outer rings

The RKB T1 Segment (small size and miniature ball bearings) has recently been enriched by new deep groove ball bearings with flanged outer rings corresponding to ordinary ball bearings with snap rings. The flange extends around the entire circumference of the outer ring to improve its running accuracy. Since it is not necessary to provide a shoulder on the housing bore if this bearings is used, the bore shape can be simply cylindrical which facilitates high precision machining and reduces machining time as well. The premium quality low noise and high speed RKB deep groove ball bearings with flanged outer rings are available in the series 608, 6800 and 6900, both shielded and sealed version.

10/11/11

RKB article on bearing development process from CAD to FEM analysis republished

The careful use of sophisticated 2D/3D CAD tools, in-house developed computing software and FEM analysis enables the RKB Group to continuously improve bearing quality, reliability and delivery time. The first part of the article, published in Organi di Trasmissione magazine, is a simple introduction to the preliminary stages of 2D drafting, 3D modeling and calculation of the main coefficients for two spherical roller bearings to be installed on the rack and pinion jacking system of an oil platform. The second part, instead, covers in detail the steps of FEM analysis for the development and validation of the above application. The two parts of the article, both in English and in Italian, are available for download in the “Publications” section of this Web Site.



RKB Publications

21/10/11

RKB presents its Technical Training Program for 2012

Under the direction of Prof. Spiridon Cretu, Head of the Engineering and Research Department, and Prof. Lucian Tudose, Head of the Advanced Calculations and Optimization Department, the RKB Bearing Industries Group has released the updated version of its Technical Training Program for 2012. The program can be found under the "Publications" section of this Web Site.

RKB Publications

11/10/11

RKB updates list of manufactured four-row taper roller bearings

Four-row tapered roller bearings are commonly used in rolling mills operating under heavy load conditions and in presence of shocks. The knowledge and experience gained over the years allow the RKB Group to manufacture a comprehensive range of premium quality four-row tapered rolling bearings with standard and special design to cover most of the requirements of the modern metals industry. The updated list of the about 200 different four-row taper roller bearings produced by RKB up to this time is available for download in the “Publications” section of this Web Site.



RKB Publications

06/10/11

RKB joins Exposibram 2011

As the leading and largest mining trade show in Brazil, the 2011 edition of Exposibram was held simultaneously with the 14th Brazilian Mining Congress in Belo Horizonte. The RKB Group joined this exhibition in conjunction with its Brazilian partner and under the supervision of RKB Director of Internal Operations and RKB senior Application Engineer. This event has spawned chances to get a first-hand appreciation of the advancements of the South American mining industry and to reinforce even more the presence of RKB in Brazil. Once again, the close cooperation with our partner led to an exceptional turnover of visitors interested in RKB premium class products.

23/09/11

RKB releases new comparative study on bearing brass and steel cages

A new scientific article based on the comparison between steel cages and brass cages was issued by the RKB Research and Engineering Department headed by our Prof. Spiridon Cretu. This study illustrates in a comprehensive manner the main differences between machined brass and pressed steel bearing cages. The objective is to shed light on an important element that, although often disregarded, plays a crucial role in the general performance of the bearing. The document is available in the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

RKB Publications

12/09/11

RKB Partner Training Events go on successfully

RKB is well aware of the importance of continuous training to offer the best quality in terms of products and service. For this reason, RKB constantly organizes and holds multiple-day training events in its Swiss Executive Headquarters and Technological Center for all of its partners around the world. In fact non-stop training is at the base of our partners’ solid knowledge of RKB rolling bearings, which is ultimately the best tool to guarantee our customers’ satisfaction.

29/08/11

RKB implements Web Site updates

The main changes concern the publication of the new photo gallery “Training & Seminars”, encompassing just a few of the pictures taken during the technical and commercial events held by RKB all over the world, the opportunity to watch all of our educational videos for free, and the chance to pay online with credit card also in USD.

Training & Seminars

RKB Educational Videos

Online Credit Card Payment

26/08/11

RKB and ArcelorMittal sign new long term contract

The RKB Bearing Industries Group has signed with ArcelorMittal an important contract for the supply of standard and technological rolling bearings over the next two years (renewable). RKB is one of the four official global partners of ArcelorMittal for the supply of premium quality rolling bearings. The contract also provides for a dedicated service of consultancy, advisory and application optimization with the aim of improving ArcelorMittal’s Total Cost of Ownership. RKB’s long-standing experience and first-hand knowledge in designing, engineering and manufacturing rolling bearings for the metals industry are the main reasons for the renewal of the partnership between the two Groups. As the world's leading steel company with operations in more than 60 countries, in 2010 ArcelorMittal had revenues of $ 78 billion and crude steel production of 90.6 million tons, representing approximately 8 per cent of world steel output.

26/08/11

RKB joins International Small Motor Exhibition 2011

Last June the RKB Group joined with its one booth the 2011 edition of the International Small Motor Exhibition. This annual event has become a particularly popular platform for the interaction between motor manufacturers and users. The Shenzhen exhibition is the only trade fair specifically devised for the small and micro motor industry. Under the coordination of our General Plants Coordinator, the RKB stand turned out to be the most popular focus of interest of the sector, with an outstanding turnover of visitors.

22/08/11

New leaflets in Portuguese

For all of our Portuguese speaking customers, the leaflets illustrating the special projects and applications realized in the main industry sectors by the RKB Group have now been made available in Portuguese. You can find and download them in the "Publications” section of this Web Site.

23/08/11

New training event of RKB Brazilian partner

Training is of paramount importance for company development and success. Being well aware of the role played by continuous training in leading to quality performance of employees, A.T.I. Brasil, the Brazilian partner of RKB, has recently carried out another thorough technical and commercial training session with its sales force to present the latest products and services offered by RKB.

26/07/11

RKB enriches its collection of multilingual documents

The range of new technical and commercial publications produced by RKB in different languages has recently been enriched by the addition of a few important documents translated into a variety of national languages. To better satisfy the world-class attitude of our Group, RKB has finally made available for consultancy its “Brief Company Profile”, “Why RKB - We make things easier!“, “Victory Line: the Step Forward”, “Products Table” and “Made in RKB” documents in English, Italian, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Turkish and Romanian. All this material can be downloaded in the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

RKB Publications

14/07/11

New technology for RKB split spherical roller bearings

The RKB Bearing Industries Group announces reinforcement of the manufacturing technology for split spherical roller bearings in its T3 Plant. Similarly to split cylindrical roller bearings, the split spherical roller bearings manufactured by RKB are specifically engineered for arrangements particularly difficult to access. Split bearings, which are typically used in cold tube rolling mill crankshafts, bucket wheel excavators etc., permit bearing assembly and disassembly without the need to remove ancillary equipment. This greatly facilitates maintenance operations and reduces machine-downtime when replacing the bearing. RKB split spherical roller bearings are made to order.

11/07/11

RKB India awarded ISO 9001, 14001 and 27001 certificates

United Registrar of Systems Ltd. (URS) is a highly reputed international organization, whose main activity is auditing, assessment and certification services against internationally accepted standards of varied disciplines, such as quality, environment, social, information security, and human health and safety. In recognition of RKB’s quality, environmental and security management systems, URS has awarded RKB Bearings Pvt. Ltd. of Mumbai (India) the ISO 9001, 14001 and 27001 certificates. The dedication of the Group to maintaining high quality standards in every aspect of the organization has enabled RKB to achieve its global reputation as the Swiss premium class bearing manufacturer. The certifications are available for download under the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

RKB Publications

07/07/11

RKB releases new technical leaflets for different industry sectors

The RKB Bearing Industries Group specializes in working toe-to-toe with customers to find efficient solutions for their applications. The experience gained over the years allows RKB to develop and produce premium quality technological bearings in a variety of industries such as iron and steel, power transmission, mines and mineral, marine and offshore, and other heavy engineering applications. The new technical leaflets show just a few of the special projects involving the technological and application-optimized bearings engineered and manufactured by RKB. You can download the new RKB technical leaflets from the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

RKB Publications

22/06/11

RKB issues new brochure on taper roller bearings assy

Thanks to its extensive expertise in engineering and producing taper roller bearing assemblies, the RKB Bearing Industries Group has realized the new technical brochure “RKB Taper Roller Bearings Assy”. Through this document you will have the chance to learn more about the comprehensive range and technical specifications of the premium quality taper roller bearing assemblies manufactured by RKB.

RKB taper roller bearings assy

21/06/11

RKB at FEIMAFE 2011 in São Paulo

ATI Brasil, the commercial partner of RKB for the Brazilian market, joined with its own booth the 13th edition of the FEIMAFE, the leading trade fair in machine tools and integrated manufacturing systems in São Paulo, Brazil. The strong international participation and the high level of qualified visitors make of FEIMAFE the meeting point of national and international exhibitors with buyer delegates. The RKB stand turned out to be one of the most popular focuses of interest of the sector of rolling bearings.

06/06/11

RKB upgrades heat-treatment workshop in T3 Plant

The heat-treatment workshop in RKB T3 Plant is being enlarged and upgraded with the purchase of a new completely automatic line. The roller-hearth RGB-360 series heat treatment production line was specifically designed for salt bath martensite-bainite isothermal quenching of different types of bearings and rolling elements. High purity nitrogen atmosphere is used in this roller-hearth controlled atmosphere bainite martempering heat treatment production line, which is composed of several sets of driving rollers to carry medium and large size bearing components. The double-line arrangement of the installation encompasses multiple computer-based temperature control systems, which eventually permit to obtain extremely stable and reliable rolling bearings.

30/05/11

RKB announces production of new split roller bearings

The split cylindrical roller bearings manufactured by RKB were specifically designed for arrangements particularly difficult to access. Split bearings, which are typically used in cold tube rolling mill crankshafts, bucket wheel excavators etc., permit bearing assembly and disassembly without the need to remove ancillary equipment. This greatly reduces machine-downtime when replacing the bearing.

26/05/11

RKB releases updated guidelines for multi-level quality control of rolling bearings

After the publication of the educational video “RKB multi-level quality control system for rolling bearings”, the related written guidelines have been released as a part of the RKB Bearing Knowledge Collections project. The document is now available for download under the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

RKB Publications

13/05/11

RKB publishes new documents for Italian, German, French and Spanish speaking customers

In order to successfully face the new challenges emerging in the global market and to ensure an ever-growing proximity to its customer needs, the RKB Bearing Industries Group has released the Italian, German, French and Spanish versions of its “Brief Company Profile”, “Why RKB - We make things easier!“ and “Victory Line: the Step Forward”. All these documents are now available for download under the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

RKB Publications

29/04/11

RKB releases new brochure on spherical roller bearings

In light of the long standing experience of RKB in designing and manufacturing spherical roller bearings, with, at present, more than 2750 different part numbers engineered, up to 1580 mm outer diameter, the RKB Bearing Industries Group has realized the new technical brochure “RKB spherical roller bearings: executions and applications”. In this way, you will learn both to know the technical specifications of the available range of spherical roller bearings manufactured by RKB and to select the proper spherical roller bearing type according to the application needs. The ISO-compliant spherical roller bearings produced by RKB cover most of the requirements in various standard and special industrial applications, in severe and critical conditions.

RKB spherical roller bearings: executions and applications

26/04/11

RKB publishes new educational video on multi-level quality control system for rolling bearings

The Technical Department of RKB has produced a new educational video on our quality control program, which is rooted in RKB top management’s insistence on quality and encompasses controls on multiple levels, from raw material procurement, through pre-process and in-process operations to post-process check activities. The multi-level quality control system for rolling bearings which is currently being run by RKB is organized and supervised by the RKB Quality Control Bureau, which is an executive structure of the Technical Division dedicated to managing quality under all respects, and has the objective of ensuring that the appropriate quality procedures are in place and constantly followed at all levels of organization.

RKB Educational Videos

14/04/11

RKB invites to read new 11th recommendation to customers

This recommendation suggests always asking order confirmation with written declaration that the origin and in-house operations of purchased bearings are in compliance with previously released certifications (for our Group Made in RKB and RKB Affidavit of origin). This will make sure that the products you are going to receive are genuine and consistent with what you ordered and paid for. The text of the recommendation can be read under the “Products & Services” section of this Web Site.

05/04/11

RKB releases its new General Quality Program

In facing the challenge of assuring the quality at all levels within the production chain, the RKB Bearing Industries Group has revised and implemented a thorough and disciplined approach to product quality. The technology, tools, techniques and policy necessary to achieve efficient and effective quality in raw materials, in-process operations and finished products requires coordination across the manufacturing process of high-technological value-added rolling bearings. By means of 33 detailed flowcharts, the new RKB General Quality Program (GQP0211AE) focuses on the rigorous procedures, programs and protocols followed by our facilities to ensure the highest levels of quality in every single step of the manufacture of all bearing components. The document is available for download under the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

04/04/11

Masterpieces from RKB Swiss Headquarters to all product lines

Masterpieces are extremely accurate bearing prototypes with dimensional values very close to the nominal ones. RKB masterpieces are directly produced in the Executive Headquarters and Technological Center of Balerna (Switzerland) by means of machines endowed with the latest technology, which allow for tighter dimensional and geometrical parameters. RKB’s decision of manufacturing and using masterpieces for all of its product lines rises from the need for more and more precise, and therefore reliable, products. The widespread use of masterpieces before mass production permits to reduce manufacturing time and errors, ensuring steady top quality at the same time. For further details on the role of masterpieces in RKB’s production process, please refer to the RKB General Quality Program.

01/04/11

New article on how to choose the right bearing source

The RKB article “A Detailed Guide to Choose the Right Supplier” was published in the April/May 2011 issue of TrasMec, the technical magazine of ASSIOT (Italian Association of Gears and Transmission Elements Manufacturers). The author of the article establishes the guidelines to tell a reliable supplier of rolling bearings from an inconsistent source. The RKB Group has developed a specific procedure, studied and implemented in close collaboration with the Department of industrial system technology and management of a major university in Northern Italy. The article can be found under the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

31/03/11

New article on stabilizer fin system of a maritime ship

“Gyrofin Stabilizer System” is a special project developed by RKB Bearing Industries in cooperation with a prestigious European shipbuilding group. The main scope of this project was to design some customized roller bearings to be used for a stabilizer fin system of a maritime ship. The ideal solution has been found by the RKB Technical Team Unit in two big size Application Optimized spherical roller Bearings (AOB) with inner bores up to 950 mm, for support of both sides of the fin shaft. The article "RKB Customized Solutions for Gyrofin Stabilizer System", published in Organi di Trasmissione, can be found under the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

25/03/11

RKB at World of Industry 2011

RKB Turkey, the Turkish branch of the RKB Bearing Industries Group, joined with its own booth the last edition of the World of Industry (WIN) 2011, the leading trade show in manufacturing industry in whole of Eurasian region. The strong international participation and the high level of qualified visitors make of WIN the meeting point of national and international exhibitors with buyer delegates. Under the coordination of our CRM Director for the Asia and Middle East area, the RKB stand turned out to be the most popular focus of interest of the sector, with an outstanding turnover of visitors.

22/03/11

New spherical roller bearing design for vibrating machinery

In many heavy engineering applications, such as vibrating screens and hammers, bearings are subjected to high speeds, high vibrations and heavy loads. In these severe conditions, RKB recommends using its new ROVSX spherical roller bearings, that are manufactured with the latest technologies to ensure better resistance to impacts, wear and fatigue. The technical brochure on the new RKB ROVSX spherical roller bearings for vibrating machines can be found under the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

21/03/11

RKB publishes educational video on its multi-row cylindrical roller bearings

The Technical Department of RKB has produced a new educational video on the main technical specifications of the most popular multi-row cylindrical roller bearings manufactured in our facilities. The RKB Bearing Industries Group produces many different types of multi-row cylindrical roller bearings, with many features available, in order to satisfy even the most sophisticated customer needs. In fact, in light of the 500 different part numbers engineered, from below 100 up to 900 mm bore and over 3 tons of unit mass, the RKB Group can rely on a long standing experience in designing and manufacturing this type of bearings.

RKB Educational Videos

09/03/11

RKB releases updated version of Brief Company Profile

The revised version of the RKB Brief Company Profile, with new data and information, has been made available for download under the “Publications” section of this web site. We recommend downloading it to learn more of the competitive advantages offered by our Group.

02/03/11

New article on the importance of bearing steel

The rating lives of bearings, with ideal internal geometries and correct mounting, ultimately depend on the quality of the steels used in the manufacturing process. For this reason, the RKB Group has undertaken extensive researches and has made great strides in the field of bearing materials and heat treatments. The article “It’s All About the Steel: the Importance of Bearing Steel Cleanliness for Long-Life Applications”, published by our Technical Department in the March 2011 issue of the “RKB Technical Review”, highlights the importance of the selection of the proper bearing steel for manufacturing high quality rolling bearings, according to the highest international standards. In addition, the complex interrelation between steel cleanliness and adequate heat and thermo-chemical treatments applied to bearing components is pointed out. The equilibrium between these factors has led to an increased fatigue life of the rolling bearings manufactured by RKB. The article can be found under the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

28/02/11

RKB releases updated Bearing Handling Guidelines

Since rolling bearings are high precision machine parts, they must be handled carefully and properly. Their improper use could lead to application malfunction and premature failure. In order to prevent serious damage, it is of paramount importance to be aware, understand and follow all the required procedures and safety instructions regarding bearing handling, including storage, mounting, dismounting, and inspection. For this reason, the revised version of the RKB Bearing Handling Guidelines by our Technical Department has been made available for download under the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

23/02/11

RKB engineers its 500th new multiroll bearing

The RKB Bearing Industries Group specializes in the design and production of many different types of multi-row cylindrical roller bearings, that is rolling bearings composed of at least one inner ring, one or two outer rings, two or more cages and four, six or eight rows of rollers, both metric and inch sizes. Thanks to the numerous executions, features and sizes available (from below 100 up to 900 mm bore and over 3 tons of unit mass), RKB can satisfy even the most demanding requirements in various standard and special industrial applications, in severe and critical conditions. With the development and manufacture of the 500th different part number of this bearing type and the biggest stock availability of multiroll bearings in Europe, RKB reinforces its position as one of the market leaders in the production of top quality highly technological rolling bearings, particularly for the metals industry. For further information on the range and technical specifications of RKB multiroll bearings, please refer to the related educational video to come.

14/02/11

RKB at Shiraz Trade Exhibition 2011

The RKB Group was present with its own booth at Shiraz International Trade Exhibition 2011, one of the most important bridge between the domestic industrial companies and the international organizations active in the petrochemical and metals industries. Under the supervision of RKB’s CRM Director for the Asia and Middle East area, Roll Art Co., the official distributor of the RKB products in Iran, realized one of the most valued stands of the sector, with an outstanding turnover of visitors.

05/02/11

Two new educational videos on RKB cylindrical roller and GX type bearings

The first educational video shows the characteristics of the RKB special design single-row cylindrical roller bearings, which can fulfill many modern machine requirements, that conventional bearing design cannot properly meet, while the second video explains the original features of the new generation of RKB four-row cylindrical roller bearings GX type, which are particularly designed for rolling mill stands used for construction steel.

RKB Educational Videos

19/01/11

RKB announces new contracts with the Tata Group

RKB awarded two contracts by the Tata Group to supply standard and technological bearings till 2012. With more than 200 references the partnership is becoming stronger and stronger. Tata is one of the world’s top ten steel producers and, as a combined Group, has an aggregate crude steel capacity of more than 28 million tons and approximately 80.000 employees around the world.

28/12/10

New article on RKB big size bearings published in an important sector magazine

As big size rolling bearings are going to play an essential role in proper operation of complex machinery, their design and production call for wise quality-oriented decisions by the manufacturer, under pain of unexpected faults or, still worse, machine downtimes. On this topic, Organi di Trasmissione magazine published the article “RKB: big dimensions require expertise” to depict the best practices followed by the RKB Group in manufacturing top quality large size rolling bearings. You can find the article under the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

15/12/10

RKB rolling bearings tested and approved by CETIM

One of the biggest manufacturers of industrial and shipyard cranes charged the Centre Technique des Industries Mécaniques (CETIM), one of the top-ranking international centers for the quality assessment of mechanical products, with performing a complete comparison of an RKB TDONA rolling bearing with the same series bearing manufactured by the major player of the sector. The tests have analyzed the two bearings in terms of design, execution, raw material (metallography, chemical composition and mechanical properties) and geometrical parameters. The results show that the RKB rolling bearing strictly applies the most recent ISO standards and is equivalent, under all respects, to that of the major brand considered, including the load rating capacities.

14/12/10

RKB releases new video seminar on non-Hertzian contacts in optimized gearboxes

In this new online scientific seminar, Prof. Spiridon Cretu, Head of the RKB Engineering and Research Department, analyzes the role of Hertzian and non-Hertzian concentrated contacts in designing optimized gearboxes, particularly for the wind industry. The potentialities of the RKB in-house developed software tool NON-HERTZ are also presented. The seminar can be seen under the “Technical training program” section of the “Products & Services” menu of this Web Site.

Wind industry: the role of Hertzian and non-Hertzian contacts in calculating and designing optimized gearboxes

13/12/10

RKB at SMTCE 2010

The RKB Bearing Industries Group took part with its own booth at SMTCE 2010 in Shanghai, one of the world´s largest trade fairs for motor components and other electrical machines. Under the direct supervision of our general plants coordinator, the RKB stand was one of the most appreciated of the sector, with an extraordinary amount of visitors.

07/12/10

RKB releases new video seminar on multi-objective optimal design of rolling bearings

In this new online scientific seminar, Prof. Lucian Tudose, Head of the RKB Advanced Calculations and Optimization Department, investigates the potentialities of Evolutionary Algorithms to design optimized rolling-contact bearings with high capacity, low weight, low friction losses, and high resistance to wear. The seminar can be seen under the “Technical training program” section of the “Products & Services” menu of this Web Site.

Pareto approach in multi-objective optimal design of rolling bearings

23/11/10

RKB announces enlargement of test rig center in T3 Plant

In order to improve the R&D activity of the Group, the center dedicated to the dynamic analysis of bearings in RKB T3 Plant was enlarged with the installation of new ABLT 5A Bearing Life Testers. These machines can effectively test deep groove ball bearings, short cylindrical roller bearings, spherical roller bearings, spherical thrust roller bearings and taper roller bearings, from 180 mm minimum bore to 440 mm maximum outer diameter.

15/11/10

New RKB premium protocol for case-hardened bearing steel

The RKB .RAV premium material protocol, so far successfully applied to through-hardened bearing steel, has been extended to SAE 9315 case-hardened steel for technological bearings. The RKB Group has received positive results from the validation tests on several applications and good feedbacks from the market. During 2010 more than 30 references have been produced with new RKB SAE 9315.RAV steel, which ensures better performance and higher reliability in the harsh conditions typical of the metals industry.

10/11/10

RKB is member of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA)

In light of its long-standing experience in designing and producing highly reliable rolling bearings for the wind industry professionals (from megawatt-class systems below), the RKB Group has joined the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), the world’s largest and most powerful wind energy network. It’s no accident that the RKB logistics warehouses around the world can count on a comprehensive range of prompt ex stock rolling bearings dedicated to all the qualified OEM and MRO customers working in this field. This enables the RKB Group to serve its clients in the most efficient way, also in shortage and emergency situations. Moreover, an entire technical department at the RKB Executive Headquarters and Technological Center in Switzerland is committed to studying, developing and putting into production customized optimal solutions for any kind of wind applications, both onshore and offshore. The knowledge gained over the years along with its pioneering production technology make of RKB the ideal partner to satisfy the most demanding requirements in the wind industry.

09/11/10

Prof. Cretu elected Chairman of the Romanian Tribology Association

During the 11th International Conference on Tribology held at the "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, our prof. Spiridon Cretu, Head of the Engineering and Research Department of the RKB Bearing Industries Group, was elected Chairman of the Tribology Association of Romania. Prof. Cretu obtained his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from the Technical University of Iasi in 1968 and 1978 respectively. He has been an assistant professor and lecturer in the Mechanical Engineering Faculty at the Technical University of Iasi from 1969 to 1986. He has been a full professor of Tribology and Contact Mechanics in that faculty since then. He has authored and coauthored around 50 papers and books on rolling bearings, machine design and concentrated contacts phenomena and has spoken at numerous international scientific conferences.

28/10/10

RKB publishes educational video on Rating Life Calculations (RRLC) software

In this educational video, our Advanced Software Engineering Unit shows the functioning of one of the proprietary in-house developed software tools used by our Technical Department: the RRLC, or RKB Rating Life Calculations, whose main objective is to provide users in a time efficient and accurate way with consistent background of relevant data for the selection of bearings size in relation to the applied loads, lubricant influence and the requirements regarding service life, reliability and safety index, following the rules defined by ISO 281 in the latest revision. You can find the educational video on the RRLC under the “Technical training program” section of the “Products & Services” menu of this Web Site.

28/10/10

RKB receives attestations of product conformity

The cylindrical and spherical roller bearings and radial ball bearings manufactured by the RKB Group have been assessed against the relevant ISO standards by the University of Brasov (Transylvania) and passed all the tests and analyses performed by Prof. Ioan Stroe, member of the Product Design and Robotics Department. For this reason, RKB rolling bearings were officially awarded the related European Attestations of conformity.

20/10/10

RKB at TATEF 2010

RKB Turkey, the Turkish branch of the RKB Group, was present with its own stand at TATEF 2010, the 13th International Metalworking Technologies Exhibition held in Istanbul. A delegation of the RKB Executive Headquarters, headed by the CRM Director for the Asia and Middle East area, was also present in the stand, which was one of the most appreciated of the sector, with an outstanding turnover of visitors.

29/09/10

RKB joins the 6th edition of KOD

Prof. Lucian Tudose, Head of the RKB Advanced Calculations and Optimization Department, presented his scientific paper “Rolling Bearing Load Rating Capacities and Rating Life” on the importance of ISO compliance in the bearing manufacturing industry at the 6th edition of the international symposium KOD ("Shape, Mechanical and Industrial Design of Products in Mechanical Engineering"). We suggest watching the related scientific seminar available under the “Technical training program” section of the “Products & Services” menu of this Web Site.

28/09/10

RKB releases four new online scientific seminars

The comprehensive set of technical and scientific seminars offered by RKB features the most prominent experts in the bearing industry. Under the scientific direction of Prof. Lucian Tudose, Head of the RKB Advanced Calculations and Optimization Department, and Prof. Spiridon Cretu, Head of the RKB Engineering and Research Department, the attendees will increase their knowledge on the most significant bearing-related topics, thus improving their working efficacy. These online seminars, that emphasize RKB’s commitment to continuous improvement and its advanced technical skills (necessary to offer a valuable co-engineering service), can be seen under the “Technical training program” section of the “Products & Services” menu of this Web Site.

28/09/10

RKB is now available on Facebook and YouTube

RKB announces its own presence on Facebook and YouTube. The pages of these two social networks dedicated to RKB will be constantly updated and enriched with multimedia contents. Join us!

RKB Bearing Industries on YouTube

RKB Bearing Industries on Facebook

14/09/10

RKB invites to read new tenth recommendation to customers

This recommendation suggests checking regularly the lubrication status of both OEM and MRO applications to ensure the appropriate performance of the bearing. The text of the recommendation can be read under the “Products & Services” section of this Web Site.

13/09/10

RKB releases its new Technical Training Program

Under the direction of Prof. Spiridon Cretu, Head of the Engineering and Research Department, and Prof. Lucian Tudose, Head of the Advanced Calculations and Optimization Department, the RKB Bearing Industries Group has released its new Technical Training Program. Further details on the contents can be found in the leaflet available under the "Publications" section of this Web Site.

30/07/10

RKB technical article republished in Search magazine

“The Most Common Causes of Bearing Failure and the Importance of Bearing Lubrication” by RKB’s R&D department has been republished in the special issue “Gears & Bearings” of Search magazine, the international leading industrial B2B magazine and the flagship brand of Infomedia 18, which is a part of Network 18 Group (CNBC TV18). Search magazine has always provided its readers with up-to-date and informative contents and has always been at the forefront to make the readers abreast with the latest technologies taking place in the manufacturing sector. This request for republishing confirms the excellent job of RKB’s Research and development department. The article can be found under the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

19/07/10

RKB promotes the use of Bearing Supplier Eligibility Compliance Procedure Form

In order to help customers in the selection process of only the most reliable and qualified bearing sources, RKB supports the use of the Bearing Supplier Eligibility Compliance Procedure Form. This questionnaire can be easily used to investigate the actual nature, positioning and capabilities of any bearing supplier you are dealing with. The form can be downloaded under the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

16/07/10

RKB announces the opening of its new branch in India

The RKB Group expands its direct operational activities and global network by establishing RKB Bearings Private Limited in Mumbai (India). The aim of our common efforts, together with our Indian joint shareholders, is to be closer to existing customers, offering them complete services and to be even more competitive through a complete structure, with sales office, technical department and market specific items in stock.

15/07/10

RKB announces the release of its renewed bearing prefix and suffix system

The new version of the Main Prefix and Suffix System gathers all the essential designations/codes and related descriptions concerning RKB bearings. The document can be found under the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

07/07/10

RKB invites to read new seventh recommendation to customers

This recommendation suggests referring to the Bearing Industry Matrix to better understand the actual positioning of a bearing manufacturer and select the most appropriate bearing source according to your specific needs. The text of the recommendation can be read under the “Products & Services” section of this Web Site.

07/07/10

RKB announces the release of its new General Information Pack

The General Information Pack is a collection of files intended to provide our clients with comprehensive information on the RKB Group and its activities. In the pack, which will be constantly updated, you will find all the essential documents to learn more about RKB’s history, standing, qualifications and products. The General Information Pack is available for download in the homepage and under the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

02/06/10

RKB photo galleries updated with new subsections and pictures

Many new pictures have been added to RKB photo galleries and reorganized in new groups (Headquarters, Design & Engineering, Production, Multilevel quality controls & Warehouse, Special projects, Sponsorships & Testimonials) under the “Our Company” section of this Web Site.

20/05/10

RKB and Duferco reinforce their collaboration

The RKB Group has been invited to participate in the publication of an article about the story of the Duferco Group on Inside Industry, prestigious international magazine. Our contribution as an approved supplier confirms and reinforces the important commercial relationships between the two Groups. The article can be found under the "Publications" section of this Web Site.

04/05/10

RKB invites to read new sixth recommendation to customers

This recommendation suggests investigating and defining the level of integration (in-house operations) of bearing manufacturers to avoid the risk of selecting spurious sources. The text of the recommendation can be read under the “Products & Services” section of this Web Site.

29/04/10

Two new articles about RKB published in important sector magazines

The articles “RKB: A Passion for Bearings for over 70 Years” and “Developments and Trends in Wind Turbine Rolling Bearings”, depicting the high-tech specifications of RKB products as well as the commitment of the entire Group to the development of the renewable energy industry, have been published in the last issue respectively of TrasMec and Organi di Trasmissione. You can read them under the “Publications” section of this Web Site.

23/04/10

The April issue of RKB Technical Review has been released

In this issue the development of an oil platform has been followed to make clear how the transition from handmade 2D paper sketch to CAD design has led to an overall enhancement of the quality, performance, reliability and delivery time of our bearings. The review can be found under the "Publications" section of this Web Site.

22/04/10

New International entitlement certificate and other certificates updates

RKB has released the new International Entitlement Certificate in order to rigorously clarify its own nature of vertically integrated and genuine Swiss manufacturer of rolling bearings. In addition, the International Producer Certificate and the International Vendor Certificate have been updated. The certificates can be found under the “Production” and “Publications” sections of this Web Site.

01/04/10

RKB invites to read new fifth recommendation to customers

This recommendation suggests to strictly follow an efficient homologation roadmap, like the one proposed by RKB, principally for the procurement process of technological bearings. In fact, the extremely complex technology used in this type of products plays a crucial role for the correct functioning of the applications and, for this very reason, must be reliable and transparent to customers. The text of the recommendation can be found under the “Products & Services” section of this Web Site.

26/03/10

Law Firm Martinez & Novebaci has released the statement of origin of RKB

To better support our customers in the Representations and warranties step of the compliance procedure, law firm Martinez & Novebaci has released the legal statement of RKB's Swiss origin. You can find the certificate under the "Publications" section of this Web Site.

22/03/10

RKB announces advancements in manufacturing technology

The updated list of the latest generation technologies used in the manufacturing process of RKB bearings is now available under the “Products & Services” section of this Web Site.

19/03/10

RKB invites to read carefully customer recommendations and Roadmap for eligibility criteria

RKB’s constantly evolving recommendations aim at providing our customers with the most critical information in the process of bearings technical evaluation, purchase and maintenance. You can find them under the “Products & Services” section of this Web Site. Based on academic background, the Roadmap for eligibility criteria has been studied to support our customers step by step in the process of selecting a bearing source, avoiding unpleasant surprises. You can read the roadmap under the “Purchase” section of this Web Site.

17/03/10

RKB announces the complete renewal of metallographic and chemical laboratory

RKB’s laboratory for metallographic and chemical analyses in Balerna has been wholly updated. This intervention emphasizes RKB’s commitment to improve the R&D process, the technical support phase and the quality of its own products in general.

12/03/10

RKB announces new EJ Type spherical roller thrust bearings

RKB’s production range is now enriched with spherical roller thrust bearings 293 and 294 series with new EJ Type design, with pressed steel cage. Along with already existing optimized configuration EVO Type introduced in 2008, both OEM and MRO customers will have more possibility to choose according to application and arrangement requirements.

11/03/10

RKB announces the new version of the online Reserved Area

A completely brand new Reserved Area is now available on RKB Web Site. Here you can find a lot of useful publications regarding RKB and the bearing industry in general. In this way, you will have the chance to browse a vast number of reserved technical documents. After all, at RKB we strongly believe that knowledge is the global currency: pass it on!

09/02/10

RKB reinforces its collaboration with the Transylvania University of Brasov

A deeper analysis on bearings from a metrological and chemical point of view is bringing knowledge for the development phases of production and for the definition of RKB Bearings Standard Compliance Program.

25/01/10

RKB Technical Team Unit develops new solid cage design for taper roller bearings assy

The solution of a single-piece machined brass cage for TDO configuration gives higher toughness in presence of vibrations and shock loads combined with centrifugal forces. This arrangement is particularly indicated for medium-size bearing assemblies in power transmission applications and wind industry as well.

21/01/10

RKB announces the development of big size spherical roller bearings in Victory Line Protocol

Among other significant optimizations, the load ratings capacities have been increased thanks to the revised design of the inner geometry. In several cases the Static Load Rating in Victory Line Protocol is more than 8% higher than in conventional bearings.

20/01/10

RKB announces the publication of its new Bearings Production Range

The new version of RKB's Bearings Production Range has been released and can be downloaded directly from the "Publications" section of this Web Site.

07/12/09

RKB announces a new contract with the Corus Group

RKB is again awarded by the Corus Group to supply standard and technological bearings on a three-year basis contract from 2010 to 2012.The track-record emphasizes the importance of collaborating with a just-in-time view to meet higher levels of efficiency in the steel industry.

26/11/09

RKB develops in the underground and tunnel boring sector

RKB reinforces its presence in the sector of underground machines and equipment for tunnel boring. The growth index of this market is less hurt by the global economic slowdown.

25/11/09

RKB increases market shares in the navy sector

RKB increases the production plan of AOB big size spherical roller bearings for power transmission (main drive shaft) of navy frigates.

11/11/09

RKB announces the upgrade of its own software for bearings rating life calculations

With RRB_RRLC Ver. 9.1 the process of selecting and evaluating bearings becomes extremely time-efficient and more accurate.

23/10/09

RKB is proud to announce the launch of its Victory Line

By adopting the best manufacturing protocols and materials, RKB Vicotory Line represents the application of the latest technology and research findings to the production of ISO rolling bearings.

23/09/09

RKB announces the online release of its new corporate video

RKB's new corporate video, aiming at introducing the philosophy and features of the Group, can be watched directly online at the homepage and in the "Our Company" section of this Web Site.

17/09/09

RKB announces its new online payment system

In the "Purchase" section of RKB Web Site, the new Credit Card Payment system is available. Thanks to this system, which is totally secure, RKB gives its customers the chance to pay directly online using the following credit cards: Visa and MasterCard.

08/09/09

RKB announces the extension of Kaizen approach to all departments

Thanks to this approach, used by the most performing companies in the world, all RKB’s corporate functions, from manufacturing to management, are organized to produce tangible improvements and eliminate waste.

03/08/09

A new OES for metal analysis

RKB purchases a new Thermo Fisher Scientific Optical Emission Spectrometer (OES) for metal analysis.

24/07/09

Signed a new contract for scientific research with the Transylvania University

RKB announces the signing of a long-term three-year contract for scientific research on technological bearings with the Transylvania University of Brasov.

15/07/09

A new manufacturing technology for pierced rollers and pin-type cages

RKB announces the development of a new manufacturing technology for pierced rollers and pin-type cages, including ultrasonic in-line micro cracks detecting. The new equipments, procedures and techniques allow higher reliability and longer operative life of big size bearings, where the highest possible load rating capacity is required.

10/07/09

Improved technical solution to the bearing carrier of wind turbine multiplicators

RKB Engineering and TTU departments fully engaged in the development of an improved technical solution to the bearing carrier of traditional design wind turbine multiplicators.

25/06/09

RKB adopts a Hitachi overhead projector prototype

RKB adopts a Hitachi overhead projector prototype to improve the technical sessions in Balerna Headquarters.

19/05/09

Ball bearings with outside diameter 1925 mm

RKB defines a contract for flanged back-to-back arrangement angular contact ball bearings with outside diameter of 1925 mm.

18/05/09

New customized advanced software for technical calculations

New customized advanced software for technical calculations is released to RKB Technical Team Unit. With the support of RRB MTDS (Main Technical Data Sheet) tool, RKB will be able to improve the process of advisory during pre-sales operations.

15/05/09

RKB announces the NHS Project development

RKB announces the development of the NHS Project, based on big size cylindrical roller bearings series, N type with annular groove and lubrication holes. The main technical characteristic is the suitability to extremely high speeds. Typical application is stranding machines.

14/04/09

RKB is enlarging its market share in the steel industry for construction of several emerging markets

RKB is enlarging its market share in the construction steel industry of several emerging markets such as Turkey, India, Syria, Iran and Pakistan.

10/02/09

Spherical roller bearings for Siemens Metal Technologies

RKB Bearing Industries has been awarded a contract for supplying spherical roller bearings to Siemens Metal Technologies.

05/02/09

“EVO type” for spherical thrust roller bearings

RKB Bearing Industries announces the development of “EVO type” for spherical thrust roller bearings to offer more possibilities of interchangeability with other bearing manufacturers.

03/02/09

Double stage planetary gears in wind turbine gearboxes

RKB Bearing Industries has developed cylindrical roller bearings paired sets for single or double stage planetary gears in wind turbine gearboxes. The system is flexible enough to fulfil growing demand of MRO.

16/01/09

RKB announces new full complement cylindrical roller bearings NJG 23 series with lamellar cage

RKB Bearing Industries starts to produce full complement cylindrical roller bearings NJG 23 series with lamellar cage (the identification code is NJGL). The new version succeeds in combining the advantages of higher load ratings with the better tribology of caged bearings.

08/01/09

RKB Bearing Industries and ETMBS partnership

RKB Bearing Industries and ETMBS partnership continues with the support of several initiatives for the protection of green areas in Southern Switzerland.