NORGLIDE® H- and T-Type Bearings Showcased at Vehicle Dynamics Expo
The European Union (EU) introduced its CO2 Regulation for Passenger Cars in 2009, stipulating a 40% reduction of CO2 emissions for new passenger cars by 2020 from 1997 levels. From 2012, all newly licensed vehicles in the EU will have to meet varying CO2 targets depending on the weight and fuel consumption of the vehicle. To achieve these targets, manufacturers will have to make substantial changes at the individual vehicle level and will require components that further reduce CO2 emissions.
Saint-Gobain’s NORGLIDE® bearings are customised and long-lasting solutions that directly support CO2 reduction efforts by helping to increase efficiency and to reduce weight. The self-lubricated bearings feature a very thick and homogenous layer of low friction polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in combination with various metal structures. While the PTFE layer helps to improve the performance by reducing friction, stick/slip, wear and vibration, the metal structure reinforcement enables lightweight construction by giving high load capabilities.
NORGLIDE® bearings can help manufacturers lower CO2 emissions in several ways. In the drive train, the bearings produce improvements by reducing friction and vibrations over its lifetime, allowing the engine (including the accessories) to work more efficiently. The bearings also provide additional benefits by offering excellent noise reduction characteristics and also by only needing a small constructed space due to the thin wall design of 0.5mm.
The upcoming technologies of downsizing and turbo charging allow the engine to produce more power and torque while consuming less fuel, which improves the overall efficiency of the combustion process. In combination with the usage of higher injection and combustion pressures, lighter materials as well as higher temperatures, it is an effective approach to cut CO2 emissions.
NORGLIDE® H-Type provides a solution to the challenge of managing the engine and the increased temperatures. NORGLIDE® H-Type features a higher thermal stability, reaching operating temperatures of 260°C combined with a thin wall design down to 0.5mm.
The NORGLIDE® T-Type design is also available with a lighter aluminum backing and still has the ability to tolerate the same amount of friction as other bearings and has the benefit of being low wearing. Used for automotive exteriors such as hinges and wiper applications, the aluminum backing facing the PTFE-tape is structured to enlarge the contact area between these layers, giving a much higher bond strength.
Mirko Hundertmark, Global Market Manager, Saint-Gobain Bearings Group, explained, “Faced with regulatory and financial pressures, manufacturers are increasingly looking at long-term component solutions to meet CO2 emission targets, reduce energy costs and improve the performance of the vehicles they produce. Solutions such as NORGLIDE® bearings will help alleviate these concerns and increase their profits.”
With extensive research, development, design, testing and manufacturing facilities along with outstanding engineering expertise, Saint-Gobain can rapidly develop custom-made solutions tailored to individual demands and parameters.
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