A new angled support pedestal for Cooper split bearings was unveiled at Beltcon 18 from 5 to 6 August by Bearings International, a leading Southern African distributor of bearings and power transmission products.

Cooper Roller Bearings is a globally-recognised expert in the design, manufacture and supply of specialist bearings since 1907. It has been distributed in Southern Africa by authorised distributor Bearings International since 1937.

The launch of this new product at Belton 18 marks the latest collaboration between these two leading companies. Beltcon is regarded as one of the foremost technical conferences of its kind in the world, attracting an array of international delegates, together with the display of the latest products and developments.

Cooper vice president of sales, Tom Black, explains that the new product represents the latest refinement of the initial development of the pedestal in the 1960s. “The new version saves a considerable amount of time and manpower due to the fact that it slides directly under the shaft at an angle, which does not need to be raised with a hoist or a jack,” explains Black.

Available previously as a bespoke solution, Cooper is now rolling out the angled pedestal across its standard range of SN and SD equivalent pedestal housings. Coupled with Cooper split bearings, customers and end users now have a total solution to reduce their maintenance requirements and subsequent downtime.

“With a split bearing, all of the components are essentially split, including the pedestal. The angled pedestal from Cooper facilitates quick insertion of the pedestal underneath the shaft. What Cooper has developed is a pedestal that, instead of being horizontal with the base, is angled to allow it to slide easily in under the shaft,” Matthew Tyler, Cooper product manager, Bearings International, highlights.

Tyler adds that the new product was well received at Beltcon 18, attracting attention from major consultancies involved in designing materials handling systems for the mining industry. “All the major project houses who design conveyor systems took the time to come and see us.”

With the mining industry under pressure to cut costs due to falling commodity prices, the focus is now on sweating existing assets and increasing the productivity of current operations. Reducing maintenance requirements is therefore a key focus for major component suppliers such as Bearings International.

“Some of the conveyor systems deployed to transport ore in the mining industry, both overland and underground, can be up to 20 km long. If these systems come to a standstill due to bearing failure, for example, it has tremendous implications on the bottom line,” Tyler stresses.

Cooper split bearings are split to the shaft, which means that all necessary components can be changed-out in as short a period as possible. Combined with the new angled pedestal, proactive maintenance is now simpler than ever, also requiring minimal equipment such as allen keys and a few basic tools.

Bearings International has been attending Beltcon since the 16th event was hosted in 2011. General marketing manager Gugulethu Nkutha believes that, as a long-standing member of the Conveyor Manufacturers’ Association (CMA), it is important for the company to support industry-specific events such as this.

“The CMA is involved with numerous decisions that are made in the South African conveyor industry. As a leading player and supplier in the bearing and power transmission field, we aim to promote the company and the major brands that can add value to the industry,” she elaborates.

“Beltcon is attended by high-profile decision makers, designers, engineers and manufacturers in the mining and materials handling industry. It serves as the most effective medium to promote the Bearings International brand, by exhibiting products best suited to the conveying industry in South Africa,” Tyler concludes.

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