Exploring the World of FAG Bearings: Who Makes Them and What They Do
FAG Bearings are the foremost choice for high-performance applications.
Discover who makes them and their various roles in machine operations with this exploration of their world. Learn about the technology that enables precision motion control today!
Do you know who makes FAG bearings and what they do? Most of us have seen these small yet powerful components in various machinery.
From automobiles to heavy-duty construction equipment, FAG bearings are an indispensable part of the mechanisms that make all these multiple machines run smoothly.
But do we understand how these amazingly durable little pieces impact the functionality and longevity of many machines?
Let’s take a look at the world of FAG bearings and explore more about who makes them and what their purpose is.
FAG Bearings have long been recognized as a pioneering brand in the rolling bearing industry.
The brand was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Fischer, a German inventor who designed a special steel ball grinder to produce completely spherical balls through grinding for the first time.
This invention revolutionized the engineering and manufacturing of equipment, making it possible to use small, exact, and durable bearings to reduce friction between moving parts.
Exploring the fascinating world of FAG Bearings offers a unique insight into a world of engineering excellence.
As one of the leading bearing manufacturers in the world, FAG has been producing high-quality bearings for over 125 years, providing reliable and durable components for industrial machinery, automotive applications, and even robotics.
FAG bearings are renowned for their precise construction, advanced designs, and ability to withstand extreme conditions.
They are sturdy enough to handle heavy loads and run smoothly for extended periods without experiencing excessive wear or damage.
The company manufactures a wide range of bearing models, from small-sized ball bearings used in consumer electronics to more oversized roller bearings designed for heavy industrial use.
Each model is carefully designed and tested to endure challenging operating environments with minimal wear or maintenance requirements.
Beyond creating high-quality products, FAG also provides its customers with advanced technical support that helps them identify the best-bearing solution for their needs.
With an extensive product lineup and expert customer support team, FAG remains one of the leading producers of quality bearings worldwide.
I. Introduction
A. Definition of FAG Bearings
FAG Bearings are a bearing used to support rotational or linear movement in industrial machinery.
They consist of an outer ring with grooves containing rolling elements, such as balls or rollers, which are held in place by cages or retainers.
FAG bearings are used in various applications, including automotive, agricultural, and industrial equipment.
They also come in multiple shapes and sizes depending on the application they're being used for.
FAG bearings are designed to be very reliable components that can run smoothly for long periods without needing frequent maintenance or replacement.
They have excellent anti-friction characteristics, which makes them ideal for heavy-duty applications that require precision and smooth operation over extended periods.
Additionally, FAG bearings are designed to be highly resistant to wear and tear due to their superior load-supporting capacity and durability.
The internal design of FAG bearings is highly specialized and includes unique features such as lubrication systems that decrease friction between the parts and reduce wear on the bearings.
Finally, FAG bearings have a wide range of temperature tolerances so that they can be used in various environments without any significant issues arising.
FAG Bearings, a subsidiary of the Schaeffler Group, is a leading manufacturer of rolling bearings and related components for the automotive and aerospace industry.
FAG bearings are renowned for their high quality, long life span, and reliability.
Their products include radial deep groove ball bearings, angular contact ball bearings, cylindrical roller bearings, tapered roller bearings, spherical roller thrust bearings, self-aligning ball bearing units, yoke-type track rollers (cam followers), and rod ends.
In addition to providing a wide range of standard bearing designs for general use in both industrial and automotive applications, FAG also produces specialized customized designs for specific customer needs.
FAG's research and development team has pioneered many advances in bearing technology.
Examples include their ceramic-coated hybrid bearings that reduce wear caused by friction between the steel cage and bearing rings;
their engineered plastic enclosures that dramatically increase the longevity of the bearing with higher static loads;
their unique inner ring coating formulations, which reduce wear on both mating components;
their innovative lubrication techniques to promote more extended service life;
and their advanced ABEC precision rating system which is used to measure the accuracy of rolling element movement within a bearing unit
Overall FAG's product offering provides customers with reliable solutions for all types of rotating machinery applications.
Their commitment to continual improvement enables them to stay ahead in the highly competitive global marketplace where quality and innovation matter most.
B. Overview of FAG Bearing Company
FAG Bearing Company, a world-renowned manufacturer of bearings and related components, has been in business since 1883.
The company is based in Schweinfurt, Germany, and produces high-quality products for the automotive, aerospace, energy, and industrial sectors.
FAG Bearing has an extensive range of bearings which include ball bearings, roller bearings, and thrust bearings.
All their products are designed to meet stringent customer requirements while providing maximum efficiency and reliability.
FAG Bearing's mission is to provide top-quality products that exceed customer expectations.
Their commitment to excellence is evident in every step of their production process.
The company uses the latest technology and state-of-the-art machinery to produce superior-quality precision components for its customers.
Through continuous innovation, FAG Bearing Company stays ahead of its competitors regarding technology and manufacturing processes.
They also monitor their suppliers' performance continuously by evaluating supplier capabilities on an ongoing basis to ensure that they are meeting FAG's standards for quality, cost-effectiveness, and delivery timescales.
The company has built a strong network worldwide with subsidiaries in over 50 countries, including China, the USA, Mexico, Brazil, India, Japan, and South Africa.
This allows them to serve customers all over the globe with ease and convenience, thus making them a global leader in the bearing industry.
In addition to this, FAG Bearing Company also offers excellent after-sales services, such as technical support not only locally but also globally, at no extra cost or service charges, thus providing total customer satisfaction.
Furthermore, FAG Bearing provides various training courses designed by experts from different fields, such as design engineering, lubrication engineering, and maintenance management, among other disciplines, all aimed at helping installers maintain efficient operations with minimum downtime or costs incurred due to repairs or replacements thus making sure that customers get value for money every time they use FAG's products or services.
The company also offers several research & development initiatives and quality assurance programs, ensuring they stay competitive within the bearing industry while delivering superior quality solutions worldwide.
II. History of FAG Bearings
A. The Origin of FAG Bearings
FAG Bearings have long been recognized as a pioneering brand in the rolling bearing industry.
The brand was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Fischer, a German inventor who designed a special steel ball grinder to produce completely spherical balls through grinding for the first time.
This invention revolutionized the engineering and manufacturing of equipment, making it possible to use small, exact, and durable bearings to reduce friction between moving parts.
Since then, FAG Bearings has grown into one of the most influential brands in modern machinery manufacturing, the automobile industry, and aerospace technology, with companies, branches, and sales agents spread across major industrial countries worldwide.
As FAG's reputation grew over the years, their technologies evolved to become even more efficient and reliable—they eventually developed split-roller bearings, which were used on large-scale mobile cranes and other heavy-load machines.
These sophisticated products are known for providing greater accuracy and smoother operation compared to different bearing types available at the time.
Today, FAG Bearings continues its legacy of innovation with groundbreaking solutions—including self-aligning roller bearings which offer higher rigidity and longer service life than traditional ball bearings—and advanced technologies such as Bearing Life Cycle Management (BLCM).
This integrated approach optimizes costs and increases operational reliability throughout the lifetime of a product.
With its world-class quality standards and cutting-edge developments, FAG has been a leader in the field of precision rolling bearings for over 130 years.
B. The Evolution of FAG Bearing Company
FAG Bearings have been a cornerstone of the rolling bearing industry for as long as it has existed.
FAG initially provided precision machinery and components to the automotive and steel industries.
Shortly after its founding, FAG began producing bearings for the railroad industry.
In 1895, the company was reorganized under the name “FAG Kugelfischer,” meaning “ball bearing producer,” thus concentrating its efforts on bearing production.
Since then, FAG Bearings have become well-known across multiple industries worldwide due to their highly reliable performance and cost efficiency.
The company underwent various organizational changes throughout its history, including a merger with SRO Schaeffler Group in 2001, which saw them become one of the most successful bearing companies globally.
This gave FAG access to state-of-the-art production facilities and allowed them to expand their presence within Europe further and beyond.
Over time, FAG Bearings have evolved into one of the most advanced rolling bearing products.
Their range of bearings covers various applications, from industrial automation systems to medical equipment and advanced aerospace engineering projects.
This is made possible through their revolutionary design that includes an outer ring with a solid flange and an inner ring featuring raceway grooves for improved stability and minimal noise during operation.
To meet ever-changing customer needs, FAG continually invests in research and development activities that focus on improving quality and performance while reducing overall customer costs.
Through these efforts, they can constantly refine existing models and introduce new products with higher efficiency levels at lower costs than competitors.
Today, FAG offers various types of bearings, including spherical roller bearings (SRB), deep groove ball bearings (DGBB), angular contact ball bearings (ACBB), and super precision axial cylindrical roller bearings (AXC).
Furthermore, they also produce specialized products such as low-friction ceramic hybrid ball bearings (~XCB), which combine elements from both steel and ceramic materials for improved performance levels over standard steel models.
As a result of these developments, FAG Bearings remains one of the most trusted names in rolling bearing technology today, with extensive experience across multiple industries ranging from automotive manufacturing to high-precision aerospace components.
Their commitment to quality assurance processes combined with best-in-class production facilities guarantees that every product produced by FAG lives up to its reputation - delivering reliable performance at minimal costs for many years!
III. Products Offered by FAG Bearings
A. Types of FAG Bearings
1. Radial deep groove ball bearings
These are the most common type of FAG bearing and feature a single row of cylinders held in place by two rings.
They can support both radial and axial loads and have high-speed capabilities. They are made from high-grade steel and offer excellent performance with minimal maintenance.
2. Angular contact ball bearings
These are also known as one-directional bearings, as they only enable rotation movement along one direction.
Angular contact ball bearings can only handle thrust load in one direction and hence require an additional bearing for the opposite direction.
They are suitable for high speeds and shallow noise operations.
3. Cylindrical roller bearings
This type of FAG bearing has a single row of cylindrical rollers arranged at right angles to each other within a track-shaped cage.
Due to their robust design enables them to handle large radial loads while offering low friction operation at high speeds.
4. Spherical roller bearings
FAG's spherical roller bearings use a spherical outer ring which is designed to deflect angular misalignments between the inner race and the outer race during rotation, providing increased lubrication life and heavy load capabilities of up to 3 million dN (dynamic load).
5. Needle roller bearings
This type of FAG bearing consists of cylindrical rollers guided through small tracks in the outer ring and surrounding cage structure, providing smooth operation without requiring external lubrication or replacement parts such as ball retainer cages or separators due to its compact size.
Needle roller bearings need little space but offer high load-carrying capacity for rotational and vibratory motions in machinery applications like pumps, compressors, motors, etc.
6. Tapered roller bearings
These are particular types of FAG bearing that feature tapered raceways on both the inner race (cones) and outer race (cups), allowing them to "roll" against each other, reducing friction when compared to standard cylindrical style bearings,
which rely on sliding contact between internal components for operation instead of rolling motion with reduced friction losses which results in better energy efficiency.
7. Thrust Ball Bearings
Thrust ball bearings consist of a shaft washer, two housing washers with grooves cut into them along an axis perpendicular to the shaft axis,
steel balls fitted into grooves inside the housing washers, plus a retainer assembly to hold everything together properly when placed under heavy loads such as propulsion systems found on ships or aircrafts where exceptionally high radial thrust forces may be encountered
8 Pillow Block Bearings
Pillow block units consist of pre-assembled housings with either self-aligning or non-self-aligning split spherical roller or split cylindrical roller bearing inserts that provide ease of installation when mounting onto rotating shafts due to their wide variety of sizes ranging from 1/2" inch up to 4" inches diameter.
9 Insert Ball Bearing Units
Insert ball bearing units consist two pre-assembled components; an insert bearing held inside a cast iron housing unit with a grease fitting located on top for easy maintenance access.
10 Split Spherical Roller Bearing Units
Split spherical roller bearing units provide exceptional service life because they feature two rows of symmetrical barrel-shaped rollers allowing them to accommodate misalignment between mating components while operating efficiently at higher speeds than traditional metal-on-metal designs.
B. Applications of FAG Bearings
-Aeronautical engineering,
-metal cutting machine tools,
-steel processing equipment,
-converters,
-foundry equipment,
-rolling mills,
-mechanical transmission equipment,
-papermaking machinery,
-cement machinery,
-mills,
-mining machinery,
-engineering machinery and vibration machinery,
-environmental protection equipment,
-wind power generation equipment,
-ships,
-antennas And radar,
-textile machinery,
-packaging machinery
Conclusion
FAG Bearings are an essential piece to many industries and applications. From manufacturing to automotive, these bearings provide a higher level of performance for customers who demand the best.
And with such a long history in the industry, it's no wonder that FAG is one of the most trusted names in bearings.
That's why we're proud to carry their products at ABC Bearings.
You can find our full selection of FAG Bearings on our website, or call us if you have any questions. Our experts are always happy to help!