Global earth warming plays a major role on climate change, in some parts of the world wreaking havoc with uncontrollable veld fires, severe flooding and drought. The major contributing factor being high levels of carbon dioxide that is released in the atmosphere by gas emissions from internal combustion engines. A renewed focus on climate change and stricter policies are changing the way in how motor vehicles will be produced in future. Manufacturers are downsizing engine size, but increasing engine capacity by adding turbochargers - placing huge emphasis on the quality and surface finish requirements of engine components. The reduction in weight of alloys and material chosen poses a great challenge in the machining of these components.

Grinding Techniques - a Tyrolit company, has the experience and expertise locally in providing cost effective grinding solutions to cater for the OEM automotive component and automotive reconditioning market, especially the grinding of crankshafts. Our local R & D facility enables us to provide the best possible product specification whilst obtaining low machining costs per unit.

When considering the overall grinding process, Business Development specialists are able to offer support on all technical issues taking into account the preferred grinding solution, machine, grinding wheel and dressing tool. One of the major challenges experienced in Crankshaft grinding is wheels being “out of balance” and this is particularly due to lack of training on the correct safety checks, mounting and balancing procedures, as well as crankshaft wheels having bigger outside diameters and smaller widths, which accentuates any “out of balance” conditions. With proper training of operators this problem could be eliminated. Grinding Techniques is able to provide the necessary training.

With our local range of ANDOR grinding wheels, we are able to produce wheels of up to 1015mm in diameter.

The change to lightweight alloys and higher surface finish requirements on engine components has established a dynamic shift on the production of grinding wheels in both conventional and super abrasives. By using the latest technology in high quality Aluminum Oxide, CBN grain and bonding systems challenges experienced with issues relating to parts being ground out of round, and to non-sufficient tolerances, are minimised and further employed to the automotive reconditioning market, earthmoving equipment and armor-plated vehicles.

Specific to the automotive reconditioning market, we have products available to suit crank-and-camshaft grinding, polishing, valve seat and stem end grinding as well as the brake and clutch industry to name but a few. We also employ the latest CNC machining which enables us to produce wheels for the gear industry with a range of modules, pressure angles and starts required for continuous generating and profile gear grinding. With the addition of Sintered Aluminum Oxide in various products, we are able to cut down on the overall production cost per unit, whilst still attaining a cool cut and good form holding on the grinding wheel.

Partnering with Grinding Techniques offering tailor-made products with competitive lead times and custom grinding solutions will go a long way in moving the automotive industry forward.