GGB Bearing Technology, formerly Glacier Garlock Bearings, has introduced two new self-lubricating metallic bearing materials to offer advanced performance in demanding operating conditions with minimal or no maintenance. GGB Bearings displayed its new CSM, CBM and flash-click solid polymer products at the recently held Auto Expo Component Show in New Delhi. The GGB CSM series is made of solid material, and the bimetal GGB-CBM series features sliding layers sintered onto metallic backings. Both of them are self-lubricating and maintenance-free.
Says Mr. Mathias Senghaas, General Manager, GGB Asia: “We have introduced a new range of bi-metal bearings, sintered materials with new assembly functions for easier assembly and bearings for special applications to support our customers. We have over 40 applications in automobiles, and hope to build on our share in the Indian market. While we have a very strong application for shock absorbers, we are continuously on the look-out for new prospects, applications and opportunities. As for commercial vehicles, we have a wide range of products and have specialized in providing maintenance-free suspension solutions to heavy truck manufacturers across the globe.”
With markets worldwide moving towards cost-effective products and solutions, manufacturers in markets like the US have taken 10 to 15 years to switch over from metal bearings to bi-metal and polymer solutions. Though the cost difference plays a major role in the technology shift, it is expected to happen at a faster pace in developing markets such as India.
Sharing an update on GGB’s progress in the Indian market, Mr. Senghaas says: “We have been in talks with several automotive companies in India. Since it is a cost-sensitive market, we have to strike the right balance between cost and technology of the products. We are working on proving our products’ worth by arranging trial runs and are very optimistic about the market here and see a lot of opportunity for growth.”
With manufacturing facilities in the US, Germany, France, Brazil, Slovakia and China and an international network of production plants and local sales offices, GGB offers a wide choice of product materials in standard or custom sizes and shapes, manufactured to precise specifications. The company shows great interest in catering to the construction equipment segment, for which it has been manufacturing specialised products with different technologies like non-metallic plain bearings with fibre glass backing and PTFE sliding layer, ideal for applications like earth-moving machines, Back-hoes, excavators, and so on.
The company range of high performance bearings is ideally suited to meet the unique application requirements of the fluid power industry as well. Broadly speaking, from space vehicles to golf carts and virtually everything in between, GGB offers the industry’s most extensive range of high performance, maintenance-free bearing solutions for multiple applications.
With increasing focus on the automotive sector, 35 per cent of GGB’s turnover comes from this segment. Its bearings have been performing very well in the fluid power industry too, which accounts for nearly 30 per cent of its total turnover. In order to develop the skill sets of people, GGB has also been conducting extensive human development training programs like Building our work place.