The SKF cooper split sealed spherical roller bearing earned a 2020 Manufacturer Excellence Award for innovation in product design from the Bearing Specialists Association (BSA).

The open and sealed versions of SKF roller bearings are designed for easy replacement with little disturbance to the shaft alignment or driveline, and eliminate the need to remove attached equipment.

This solution reduces mean time to repair downtime by up to 70 per cent. The sealed version has a machined seal within the bearing for contamination protection, reducing environmental impact by lowering grease consumption. It is also suited for harsh application environments.

“More than 40 per cent of accidents in the mining and cement industry occur while workers are examining or maintaining conveyors,” said Will Hidell, vice president of sales, aftermarket and channel management, SKF USA. “By eliminating the need to dismount drive couplings or cantilevered drives during maintenance and replacement, our bearings help create even safer conditions for our customers’ personnel.”