Innovative radial shaft seal and new water guard improve overall roller bearing reliability in work rolls PLYMOUTH, Mich. – In the harsh environment of a steel plant, reliability is essential. An unplanned breakdown of a sealing system causes loss of production or additional cost of spare parts. As a sealing system expert, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies (Freudenberg-NOK) has developed a two-part system - consisting of its innovative radial shaft seal, the Merkel Radiamatic® RPM 41, and a new type of water guard, the deflector Merkel Enviromatic - that helps extend the overall life of work rolls and increases work roll reliability. "By spending time with processors in the iron and steel industry, we recognized that their special needs went beyond off-the-shelf materials and designs," said Marc Liepins, sales director, Freudenberg-NOK. "Sealing systems like those used in work rolls require a unique combination of excellent protection of the expensive rolling bearings, reliable performance until the next scheduled maintenance, ease of installation and, very importantly, readiness of supply. To help these customers meet these specific needs, we developed a unique sealing system for this type of application." The particular requirements of steel plant operators are met by the combined performance of Freudenberg-NOK's Merkel Radiamatic RPM 41 and the matching Merkel Enviromatic seals. The symbiotic behavior of the seals offers long, reliable and cost saving performance, as demonstrated by the 25 German and American steel plants where the system is currently in use. Merkel Enviromatic In order for the radial shaft seal sealing elements of the rolling bearing to function perfectly, they should be protected by a reliable water guard. This is because water ingress and associated water content in the lubricant are factors which shorten the service life of the bearings due to premature wear. Unlike the usual V-rings, which have a soft, flat sealing lip with a broad contact surface, Freudenberg-NOK's new Merkel Enviromatic deflector/water guard has a defined, linear sealing edge. This functional, linear contact of the sealing lip remains intact even in the case of axial shaft misalignment of ± 4 mm. The result is maximum protection against ingress of water. In addition, steel plants benefit from a perfected joining process for this type of seal that has been proven at diameters of up to 4 meters, as well as short delivery times. Merkel Radiamatic RPM 41 The Merkel Radiamatic RPM 41 radial shaft seal is completely coated in rubber and leaves no trace in the installation space, while also sliding effortlessly into place without needing to be hit with a hammer. This new radial shaft seal functions without a spring element at the sealing lip, which is made possible by a newly developed elastomer material with low compression set. This unique design eliminates potential hazards that metal objects present to the roller bearing. Further, like the Merkel Enviromatic, the Radiamatic RPM 41 replacement seals for existing housings of any diameter can be shipped to the customer within 24 hours. For more detailed information, please visit: https://rpm41.fst.com/. Attendees interested in more information about Freudenberg-NOK sealing solutions for the steel industry can visit the company's booth #1757 at the AISTech conference taking place May 16 to 19 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. The event features technologies from all over the world that help steel producers to compete more effectively in today's global market. For more information: https://www.aist.org/conference-expositions/aistech. About Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies runs the operative business of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) in the Americas. Being part of the global Freudenberg Group, the company is a leading producer of advanced sealing technologies for a variety of markets including: aerospace; agriculture; appliance; automotive; construction; diesel engine; energy; food and beverage; heavy industry; and pharmaceutical. Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a joint venture between FST and NOK Corp. in Japan, is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich. and operates more than 20 facilities across the Americas. For additional information, please visit www.fst.com.