Global bearing and seal manufacturer SKF recently supplied its Cooper 03 series split cylindrical roller bearings to a leading iron-ore mine in South Africa’s Northern Cape province, noting that fitting the bearings to the operation’s conveyor systems unlocked significant gains in efficiency.

SKF South Africa key account manager Duncan Mngomezulu explained that the mine had long struggled with bearing failures leading to prolonged conveyor stoppages, adding that limited access to pulley bearings led to drawn‑out, disruptive maintenance that further aggravated downtime. In the harsh iron-ore environment, it became clear that superior robustness and reliability were essential for the customer, and the SKF Cooper 03 series split cylindrical roller bearings were proposed as the required solution.

“This bearing is tailor‑made to overcome every challenge the mine was facing,” he stated. “However, before we could recommend this solution, we first needed to determine whether the customer’s existing bearings could be successfully converted into split bearings. Following a detailed site visit by the SKF team, conversion opportunities were confirmed, paving the way for a practical and highly effective implementation.”

Mngomezulu noted that the unique split design of the bearings works hand‑in‑hand with a robust sealing system to allow fast, straightforward and safe on‑site replacement or repair even in hard‑to‑reach areas.

“With minimal disruption to shaft alignment and sharply reduced maintenance time, requirements and costs, these bearings achieve mean time to repair, or MTTR, reductions of up to an extraordinary 70%. That transformative advantage keeps machines running, productivity soaring and downtime firmly under control.”

By eliminating the need to dismount couplings or cantilevered drives, realignment is avoided, worker exposure to hazards is reduced and maintenance can be streamlined. Mngomezulu emphasises that this safety benefit is critical in mining and cement sectors, where nearly half of accidents occur during conveyor maintenance and checks.

The company asserts that the bearings are suited to the harshest industrial environments, performing with consistency across sectors such as mining, mineral processing, metals, materials handling, cement, pulp and paper, power generation and food and beverage. It notes that the versatility of the bearings makes them suitable for use in a range of demanding applications including conveyor pulleys, bucket elevators, escalators, mixers, agitators, and horizontal grinding mill pinions.