Success Story
Industry: Food & Beverage
Application: Mecatherm Dough Mixer
Cost Savings: $51,236
Introduction
A major UK bakery was experiencing regular bearing failures on their Mecatherm Dough Mixer. Bearings needed to be replaced every 2 to 3 months resulting in high maintenance cost and loss of production.
NSK reviewed the bearing application and recommended NSKHPS Spherical Roller Bearings. This improved bearing life significantly by 3 to 4 times and therefore reduced unplanned downtime.

- Dough Mixer

- NSKHPS Spherical Roller Bearings
Key Facts
- 2 Mecatherm Dough Mixers in use
- Dough Mixer application requires heavy load capacity together with bearings that can accomodate swashing caused by shaft deflection
- Original bearings only lasted between 2-3 months due to application conditions
- NSK Solution: NSKHPS (High Performance Standard) Spherical Roller Bearings ideal for heavy loads
- Bearing life extended by 3 to 4 times
- Reduced maintenance requirements resulting in a significant cost savings
Value Proposals
- NSK Engineers reviewed bearing application including an analysis of the failed bearings
- Recommended NSKHPS Spherical Roller Bearings
- A trial of NSKHPS bearings resulted in increased bearing life by 3 to 4 times
Product Features
- Highest load rating SRB's
- Optimum raceway design & surface finishing
- Brass cage design (CAM) or strengthened steel cage (EA)
- High cleanliness Z-steel
- Temperature stability: up to 200° C
- 40 mm to 260 mm bore size
- Up to twice the operating life
- Up to 20% higher limiting speed
- Dynamic load rating: 25% higher
- Lower maintenance cost and improved productivity
- High load rating enables downsizing


Cost Saving Breakdown
Before | Cost p.a. | NSK Solution | Cost p.a. | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Costs of lost production: Lost production: 12hrs x $640/hr x 8/year | $61,440 | Costs of lost production: Lost production: 12hrs x $640/hr x 2/year | $15,360 | |
Engineering Costs: Labor cost: $24/hr x 24hrs x 8/year | $4,608 | Engineering Costs: Labor cost: $24x 24 hrs x 4/year | $2,304 | |
Bearing Costs: Bearings costs | $921 | Bearing Costs: Bearings costs | $460 | |
Engineering Costs: Engineering support | $2,391 | Engineering Costs: Engineering support | $0 | |
Total Costs | $69,360 | $18,124 |
Reference:SS-E-2047
Share