- Email: [email protected]
Trelleborg acquires EPG as it targets US market
ISSN 1350-4789
March 2006 www.worldpumps.com
Seal prevents shaft current damage to bearings Inpro/Seal has announced its Motor Grounding Seal (MGS), an innovation based on the bearing isolator for which the company is known. The grounding seal is designed to stop the damaging effects of residual shaft currents in AC motors. Specifically developed for variable-frequency drive (VFD) controlled AC motor applications, the seal prevents pitting, fluting and fusion craters while protecting the bearings from contamination. VFD systems inherently generate residual current or shaft voltage that accumulates on the rotor and discharges through the motor bearing. This random and frequent discharging is referred to as the electric discharge machining (EDM) effect, a phenomenon that causes pitting on the bearing’s rolling elements and raceways. The new seal includes a grounding ring and brush built into the bearing isolator. The grounding ring dissipates the current and gives it a path
to ground, away from the bearings. The brush contains micro-fibers that completely surround the shaft and discharge shaft current. It is the result of collaboration between Inpro and Electro Static Technology. The seal eliminates the shaft current by providing a ‘virtual short’ between the shaft and motor frame, which prevents the shaft current and voltage from building up to a level where bearing damage can occur. Electro Static Technology is in the business of elimination and/or mitigation of induced electrical charges. The company also designs flexible peel-and-stick passive static eliminators for printers, copiers and other imaging devices. Contact: Inpro/Seal Company, PO Box 3940, Rock Island, IL 61204, USA. Tel: +1 309 787 4971, Fax: +1 309 787 6114. Web: www.inpro-seal.com or www.bearingisolators.com
Brazilian manufacturer to build plant in US Sabo, the Brazilian-based manufacturer of gaskets, seals and hoses, is to build a seal and gasket plant in North Carolina, USA. The company has received US$100 000 in state incentives for the new plant. ‘We want to have a much more broad penetration in the world,’ says company vice president Panico Peres. The Sabo USA Inc plant near Lincolnton, North Carolina is expected to grow to an $18 million operation. Sabo has manufacturing locations in Brazil, Argentina, Austria, Germany and Hungary, including those operating under the Kaco name. Contact: Sabó Industria E Comércio Ltda, R. Matteo Forte, 216 Lapa Cep, 05038-140 Sao Paulo, Brazil. Tel: +55 11 3677 2600, Fax: +55 11 3874 5000 , Email: [email protected], Web: www.sabo.com.br
Contents News In Brief The MGS seal from Inpro/Seal earths stray motor currents which could otherwise damage the bearings.
Trelleborg acquires EPG as it targets US market Through its Building Systems business unit, Swedish-based Trelleborg has acquired EPG Inc in the US, with about 140 employees and annual sales of approximately SEK170 million (US$21.5 million). The company is privately owned and has two production units in Aurora, near Cleveland, Ohio. EPG produces polymer sealing products such as extruded profiles and pipe seals, primarily for the construction industry. It serves a
number of niche markets, mainly in commercial building design, and is capturing an increasing share of the residential market. This purchase is seen by Trelleborg as a growth platform for its operations in North America. Contact: Trelleborg AB, PO Box 153, SE-231 22 Trelleborg, Sweden. Tel: +46 410 67000, Fax: +46 410 42763, Web: www.trelleborg.com
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Features: Lifetime estimation and design of elastomeric seals with reinforced metal end caps 5–9 Case study: Bio-reactor seal retrofit
10
A three-face seal for extreme applications
11
Patents Events Calendar
ISSN 1350-4789/06 © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This journal and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by Elsevier Ltd, and the following terms and conditions apply to their use: Photocopying Single photocopies of single articles may be made for personal use as allowed by national copyright laws. Permission of the publisher and payment of a fee is required for all other photocopying, including multiple or systematic copying, copying for advertising or promotional purposes, resale, and all forms of document delivery. Special rates are available for educational institutions that wish to make photocopies for non-profit educational classroom use.
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March 2006 www.worldpumps.com
Seal prevents shaft current damage to bearings Inpro/Seal has announced its Motor Grounding Seal (MGS), an innovation based on the bearing isolator for which the company is known. The grounding seal is designed to stop the damaging effects of residual shaft currents in AC motors. Specifically developed for variable-frequency drive (VFD) controlled AC motor applications, the seal prevents pitting, fluting and fusion craters while protecting the bearings from contamination. VFD systems inherently generate residual current or shaft voltage that accumulates on the rotor and discharges through the motor bearing. This random and frequent discharging is referred to as the electric discharge machining (EDM) effect, a phenomenon that causes pitting on the bearing’s rolling elements and raceways. The new seal includes a grounding ring and brush built into the bearing isolator. The grounding ring dissipates the current and gives it a path
to ground, away from the bearings. The brush contains micro-fibers that completely surround the shaft and discharge shaft current. It is the result of collaboration between Inpro and Electro Static Technology. The seal eliminates the shaft current by providing a ‘virtual short’ between the shaft and motor frame, which prevents the shaft current and voltage from building up to a level where bearing damage can occur. Electro Static Technology is in the business of elimination and/or mitigation of induced electrical charges. The company also designs flexible peel-and-stick passive static eliminators for printers, copiers and other imaging devices. Contact: Inpro/Seal Company, PO Box 3940, Rock Island, IL 61204, USA. Tel: +1 309 787 4971, Fax: +1 309 787 6114. Web: www.inpro-seal.com or www.bearingisolators.com
Brazilian manufacturer to build plant in US Sabo, the Brazilian-based manufacturer of gaskets, seals and hoses, is to build a seal and gasket plant in North Carolina, USA. The company has received US$100 000 in state incentives for the new plant. ‘We want to have a much more broad penetration in the world,’ says company vice president Panico Peres. The Sabo USA Inc plant near Lincolnton, North Carolina is expected to grow to an $18 million operation. Sabo has manufacturing locations in Brazil, Argentina, Austria, Germany and Hungary, including those operating under the Kaco name. Contact: Sabó Industria E Comércio Ltda, R. Matteo Forte, 216 Lapa Cep, 05038-140 Sao Paulo, Brazil. Tel: +55 11 3677 2600, Fax: +55 11 3874 5000 , Email: [email protected], Web: www.sabo.com.br
Contents News In Brief The MGS seal from Inpro/Seal earths stray motor currents which could otherwise damage the bearings.
Trelleborg acquires EPG as it targets US market Through its Building Systems business unit, Swedish-based Trelleborg has acquired EPG Inc in the US, with about 140 employees and annual sales of approximately SEK170 million (US$21.5 million). The company is privately owned and has two production units in Aurora, near Cleveland, Ohio. EPG produces polymer sealing products such as extruded profiles and pipe seals, primarily for the construction industry. It serves a
number of niche markets, mainly in commercial building design, and is capturing an increasing share of the residential market. This purchase is seen by Trelleborg as a growth platform for its operations in North America. Contact: Trelleborg AB, PO Box 153, SE-231 22 Trelleborg, Sweden. Tel: +46 410 67000, Fax: +46 410 42763, Web: www.trelleborg.com
1–4 4
Features: Lifetime estimation and design of elastomeric seals with reinforced metal end caps 5–9 Case study: Bio-reactor seal retrofit
10
A three-face seal for extreme applications
11
Patents Events Calendar
ISSN 1350-4789/06 © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This journal and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by Elsevier Ltd, and the following terms and conditions apply to their use: Photocopying Single photocopies of single articles may be made for personal use as allowed by national copyright laws. Permission of the publisher and payment of a fee is required for all other photocopying, including multiple or systematic copying, copying for advertising or promotional purposes, resale, and all forms of document delivery. Special rates are available for educational institutions that wish to make photocopies for non-profit educational classroom use.
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