Mahesh Thangamani, India Sales Manager, Garlock India Pvt. Ltd., shares his excitement over their product PyroSlide 1100 bearing material that was introduced into the market in India last year.
Foray into tribological space
GGB is aggressively developing tribological solutions for automotive and other industries. This space allows us to offer solutions irrespective of product shape and material. And we take this opportunity to let everyone know that GGB is now ready to cater to our customers’ high technological needs to improve their product performance.
USP of PyroSlide 1100
The advantage of PyroSlide 1100 is that this can tolerate up to 800-degree centigrade temperatures whereas conventionally, polymer bearings can work at 280 and graphite ones can take up to 550-degree centigrade temperatures. The PyroSlide 1100 can work excellently with engine applications especially the EGR valve, EHRS, exhaust throttle valves and brakes besides turbocharger wastegate valves. In the near future, GGB will come out with those bearings that can withstand 1000-degree centigrade temperatures too.
These high temperature powder metal bearings are self-lubricating and are maintenance free by forming a solid film of lubricant during the relative motion. Besides, they offer high resistance to wear and have low-friction properties. They are resistant to corrosive environments and offer dimensional precision along with higher load capacities. This is a highly-customizable solution and we can offer high volume production too.
In the EV times
We want and are helping Indian electric vehicle market to grow faster. These vehicles will require fewer components yet some like shock absorbers, and brake systems will continue to be used while some new components like actuators and solenoids will get added. GGB has applications in all these areas. We wish to engage more budding and start-up companies in this segment to cater to.
These are good times for us to move to a higher level into offering tribological solutions. We are well known with our existing customers as bearing suppliers but these bearings have limitations in terms of shapes. Getting into tribological space will allow us to cater to varied needs of our customers that use differently shaped products.
Impact of economic slowdown
The previous year the slowdown did have a slight impact on the automotive industry especially in the later half of the year. But since the beginning of the new year, we are witnessing a sort of a revival in our customers’ schedules. If this picks up momentum, then I can say that this will be a good and promising year.