Bearings distributor Bearings 2000 will continue to supply its hybrid ceramic (HC) bearings, which are manufactured by German bearings company Schaeffler and used in the manufacture and repair of motors, drives, winches and generators, to the South African gold, coal and platinum sectors, despite the negative impact of the recent wage-related strikes at Gold Fields’ KDC West mine, near Carletonville, and Anglo American Platinum’s Rustenburg mining operations.

The six-week strike at Lonmin’s Marikana mine, which ended with a 22% wage increase and saw 45 people killed in August, has caused unrest to spread to nearby mines, with workers demanding similar increases.

Bearings 2000 sales director Michael Stamatiadis tells Mining Weekly that the company has, thus far, not been affected, but expects challenges in the coming months.

“Because the project delivery periods to the mines are long, we have not been impacted yet, but we know that the back- lash will eventually filter through to us,” he says.

Stamatiadis adds that this has not deterred Bearings 2000 from expanding its busi- ness with companies supplying the mining industry.

“We have been expanding our market to include more mining-related companies, such as conveyor distributors and manu- facturers and will continue to do so despite the current state of the mining industry,” he says.

Stamatiadis points out that, in industrial applications, HC bearings are becoming popu- lar replacements for conventional bearings in electric motors which pose challenges with regard to lubrication, temperature or current passage requirements.

“HC bearings require less lubricant than steel bearings owing to the favourable material combination and a smaller contact area. This results in a life span of at least twice that of standard deep-groove ball bearings,” he says.

Stamatiadis adds that hybrid ceramic/ steel bearings cost over 25% more than conventional bearings. This is, however, more than made up for by the increased life span in operation and the improved performance of the bearings.

“The cost effectiveness of the bearings is determined by the amortisation period and, owing to a favourable cost to benefit ratio, these bearings pay for themselves within a short period,” he states.

Expansion
Stamatiadis says Bearings 2000’s Cape Town branch moved to a larger premises this year, owing to the rapid growth the company has seen in Cape Town since 2010.

“The expansion allows us to carry a greater quantity, as well as a wider diversity of stock; it also improves accessibility for collections and deliveries, which ultimately improves turnaround times and results in even higher levels of customer service and satisfaction,” says Bearings 2000 Cape Town branch manager Shannon Robertson.

Stamatiadis points out that the Bearings 2000 Cape Town branch is continuously expanding its stock levels and product quantity to meet anticipated increases in demand in the region in the short term.

“Owing to its success, the Bearings 2000 Cape Town branch has been identified as the company’s headquarters for expansion along the coastline of South Africa. I am confident we can achieve this growth in the short term through our strong logistics and internal communications capabilities, paired with our after-sales and technical support services,” he says.

“Logistically, Cape Town is far removed from Gauteng, which is recognised as the national base for warehousing bearings in South Africa. As a result, we identified the opportunity to establish a well-stocked branch in Cape Town to improve turnaround times for customers while reducing additional transport costs. This move has placed Bearings 2000 in a strong position in this market,” adds Stamatiadis.

Robertson states that the key to the success behind the branch so far has been Bearings 2000’s customer service, combined with a friendly staff and on-time deliveries.

“We also offer a 24-hour breakdown service,” he says, noting that the growing complexity of modern machinery has resulted in increased demand from mining and industrial applications for expert assistance and backup relating to the procurement, replacement and reconditioning of machinery and related components.

“Bearings 2000 strives to ensure that qualified and experienced field service engineers are constantly available to assist its customers to increase production and efficiency by providing proactive maintenance and comprehensive technical assessments of all the necessary plant components,” Robertson explains.

Meanwhile, elaborating on the different ranges Bearings 2000 offers customers, Stamatiadis highlights that rolling bearings and linear products manufacturer Schaeffler has factories manufacturing its brand of FAG bearings worldwide and is well established in the Western Cape, with the Cape Town market reacting positively towards the FAG X-life range of bearings.

Robertson explains that these bearings ensure fewer unplanned bearing failures and machine downtime owing to a reduced damage probability.

“The X-life bearing offers high corrosion resistance, low contamination sensitivity and is suitable for high temperatures. It has a high load-carrying capacity, low friction and low expenditure for lubrication and maintenance,” she explains.