Sealing arrangement

design guide

Sealing arrangement design guide

Contents
The complete SKF bearing and CR sealing system....

Bearing damage a sign of sealing problems ............

The seal ........................................................................... 6

Function ........................................................................ 6
Types ............................................................................ 6
Radial shaft seals ......................................................... 8
Materials ....................................................................... 9
The environment ........................................................... 11
The shaft ....................................................................... 14
The housing bore .......................................................... 15
Seal selection .................................................................
Grease retention ...........................................................
Oil retention ..................................................................
Exclusion ......................................................................
Exclusion/retention .......................................................
Separating two liquids...................................................
Containing high pressure ..............................................
Restricted space ...........................................................
Installation restrictions ..................................................

16
18
18
19
19
20
20
21
21

Seal installation .............................................................. 22

Repairing worn shafts.................................................... 24
Seal maintenance ........................................................... 26
Seal check list................................................................. 27
A brief history of CR Industries .................................... 29
The SKF Group a worldwide corporation.................. 30

The complete SKF bearing

and CR sealing system
Since taking over CR (Chicago Rawhide) in 1990, SKF is not only the world
leader in rolling bearings but also in
shaft sealing technology. Combining
the very wide experience of SKF with
rolling bearing applications throughout
the world and the know-how of CR in
respect of seals has strengthened
SKF competence in these fields. It also
forms a solid foundation for further innovations in bearing and seal technology.
Whatever the bearing arrangement, it
comprises not only the bearing but also
the components immediately associated with the bearing. Besides shafts
and housings these include the seals,
the performance of which is of vital importance to the cleanliness of the lubricant. Contaminants have a profound
effect on bearing life and the SKF New
Life Theory allows this to be quantified.
For the designer this means that
bearings and seals should be viewed
as an integrated system and should be
treated as such. When designing the
sealing arrangement and selecting the
seals, therefore, the requisite life of the
bearing(s) and the lubricant must be
taken into consideration.

For the maintenance engineer, it

means that seal wear and bearing
failure are not inevitable and can
be avoided by using a different seal
or a seal of different material, or by
changing maintenance routines etc.
For SKF, it means that increasing
attention is being paid to seals for
bearings as well as to seals in general.
It also explains why CR, the largest
American producer of radial shaft seals,
now forms part of the SKF Group.
CR has always devoted considerable
resources to research and development of new designs, materials and
manufacturing of seals. These efforts
are now concentrated at a research
centre in Elgin, Illinois, USA, which is
probably the largest research facility of
its kind in the world. The ongoing
development of sealing technology
brings benefits to the original equipment
manufacturer as well as to the end user.
Design and material improvements
enhance the contaminant exclusion
and lubricant retention properties of the
seals so essential to long seal life,
long bearing life, and last but not least,
long machine life.

SKF bearings and CR seals complement each other and are always the
correct choice for bearing and sealing
arrangements of all kinds.

Sealing arrangement design guide

Bearing damage
a sign of sealing problems
The calculated life of a bearing is defined as the period of time for which the
bearing will operate until signs of fatigue
set in, and since most bearings fail for
other reasons, it may be argued that
most bearing failures are premature.
The development of the SKF New
Life Theory has made it possible to
take into account not only the effects of
material and lubricating conditions on
bearing life in addition to bearing load,
but also the effect of contamination
and the bearing damage it produces.
Solid contaminants, depending on particle size, hardness and brittleness will
produce indentations and/or wear on
the bearing surfaces. Water will affect
the efficiency of the lubricant and also
its rust inhibiting properties. Contamination in the lubricant can dramatically reduce bearing life so that good
sealing is of vital importance.
When a seal fails, contamination can
infiltrate the bearing area and enter the
lubricant and then the bearing. Also,
lubricant may be lost from the bearing,
leading ultimately to dry running and
bearing failure. Information regarding
the influence of lubrication and contamination on bearing life can be found in
the SKF General Catalogue.

Bearings can, of course, fail for

reasons other than seal or lubricant
breakdown. These reasons include
overloading, either as a result of applying too heavy a load or as a result of
misalignment or faulty mounting. Other
reasons are overheating, excessive
vibration or the passage of electric
current through the bearing.

More information about bearing damage

will be found in publication PI 401
Bearing failures and their causes.

Bearing damage that may be seal related

Wear caused by abrasive particles

Pitting (small indentations) and/or wear of
the surfaces of the raceways on rings and
rolling elements and a darkening of the
lubricant indicate the presence of contamination.

Wear caused by inadequate lubrication

Worn or mirror-like surfaces, possibly with
coloured (brownish) bands, indicate poor
lubrication.

Corrosion
Greyish-black streaks across the raceways
at intervals corresponding to the spacing of
the rolling elements (in this case cylindrical
rollers) indicate that water has penetrated
the bearing during standstill. General rust
indicates the presence of water or other
corrosive substances.

Indentations caused by contaminant

particles
Indentations on the raceways of rings and
rolling elements indicate the presence of
contaminants in the bearing. Even soft particles such as cellulose or textile fibres can
cause indentations if they are large enough.

Surface distress
Small shallow craters with crystalline appearance can result from momentary brief
metal-to-metal contact. The cause may be
either the use of an unsuitable lubricant, or
the loss of lubricant through the seal.

Smeared roller ends and guide flanges

Scored and discoloured roller ends or
flange surfaces are caused by inadequate
lubrication of the roller end/flange contact.
In some cases this may be because lubricant has been lost.

Sealing arrangement design guide

The seal
Function

Static seal:
gasket

Static seal:
O-ring

Dynamic seal:
radial shaft seal

The purpose of a seal is to prevent the

passage of media of all types between
the mating surfaces of components;
the surfaces may be either stationary
or in motion. The seal should be sufficiently capable of deformation to be
able to compensate for any surface
irregularities but also be strong enough
to withstand operating pressures. The
material(s) from which the seal is
made should also be able to withstand
the operating temperatures, and have
appropriate chemical resistance.

Types
There are several different types of
seal; for example, DIN 3750 distinguishes between the following basic
types:
1. seals in contact with stationary
surfaces,
2. seals in contact with sliding
surfaces,
3. non-contacting seals,
4. bellows and membranes.
Seals in contact with stationary surfaces are known as static seals and
their sealing effect depends on the radial
or axial deformation of their cross section when installed. Gaskets ( fig 1 )
and O-rings ( fig 2 ) are typical examples of static seals.
Seals in contact with sliding surfaces
are used to seal the passage between
machine components which move
relative to each other either linearly or
in the circumferential direction. These
seals, known as dynamic seals, have
to retain lubricant, exclude contaminants, separate different media and
withstand differential pressures.
There are various types of dynamic
seal, including packings and piston
6

Dynamic seal:
mechanical seal

Q;@

Q
@
;
Q;@Q;@Q;@Q;@
Q;@ ;@QQ;@

Q;@
;@QQ;@

rings, which are used for linear or

oscillating movement. However, radial
shaft seals ( fig 3 ) constitute the
major type and are used in widely
differing applications in all branches
of industry. Other popular dynamic
seal types include mechanical seals
( fig 4 ), V-ring seals ( fig 5 ) and
felt seals.
The non-contacting or non-rubbing
seals function by virtue of the sealing
effect of a narrow, relatively long gap
which may be arranged axially, radially or as a combination of radial and
axial gaps. Non-rubbing seals, which
range from simple gap-type seals to
multi-stage labyrinths ( fig 6 ) are
practically without friction and do not
wear. They are, therefore, particularly
suitable for high-speed and hightemperature operation.
Bellows and membranes are used to
seal components which have limited
movement relative to each other.
Because of the importance of
radial shaft seals for the efficient
sealing of bearing arrangements,
this guide deals almost exclusively
with radial shaft seals and their application as well as with the various
designs and executions.

Dynamic seal:
V-ring seal

Dynamic seal:
labyrinth seal

The seal

Radial shaft seals

Radial shaft seals consist of

The principal components of a typical

radial shaft seal are shown in the adjacent illustration ( fig 7 ). The seal
shown has a simple L-shaped steel
shell to which the sealing element of
elastomer is bonded. An additional
secondary or dust lip may also be provided. This protects the primary sealing
lip from solid contaminants.
Seals with inner shells have enhanced radial stiffness. The inner shell
is advantageous where installation
conditions are difficult.
CR produces radial shaft seals of
all the standard types covered by
ISO 6914/I (DIN 3760 and DIN 3671)
( fig 8 ). The CR radial shaft seal
range also includes special designs,
in particular for heavy engineering applications ( fig 9 ).
The sealing lips of CR radial shaft
seals are produced in various materials
and in two executions which differ in
the form of the sealing lip edge. The
conventional edge is straight and
traces a relatively narrow path on the
counterface. CR Waveseals on the
other hand have a hydrodynamically
formed edge which traces a sinusoidal
path on the counterface. The Waveseal
represents the most important development in radial shaft seals over the past
25 years. The axial relative movement
of the form-pressed Waveseal lip on
the counterface provides hydrodynamic
properties, pumping lubricant back into
the bearing arrangement and deflecting
contaminants.
The garter springs of standard CR
radial shaft seals, which press the sealing lip against the counterface with the
8

Bearing side

Environment

a cylindrical outside diameter of pressed steel (shell) or elastomer which

provides a static seal in the housing
bore, gives a sufficiently tight fit for
the seal in the bore, and enables the
seal to be properly installed;
a sealing lip of elastomer, which seals
against the shaft; the sealing lip has
an edge formed by pressing, cutting
or grinding, which is normally held
against the surface of the shaft
(counterface), with a defined radial
force, by a garter spring.

Shell

Garter
spring
Sealing
element
Hinge
Primary sealing lip

Typical radial
shaft seal

Type 1

Type 2

Type 3

Type 4

Type 5

Type 6
Radial shaft seals
to ISO 6194

All-rubber radial
shaft seal
a) with open
spring groove
b) with SpringLock
c) with SpringKover

Materials
The performance and reliability of a
radial shaft seal are largely dependent
on the material from which the sealing
lip is made. Where seals regularly fail
after a short period of operation, it
may be advisable to replace them
with seals of another material, e.g.
one which is more wear-resistant such
as CR LongLife fluoro rubber. Although
more expensive to buy, the reduced
maintenance and downtime may make
them an economic proposition.
Normally materials based on acrylonitrile butadiene are used for radial
shaft seals. For CR seals, the materials
described in the following are used.

Acrylonitrile butadiene (NBR)

Commonly referred to as nitrile rubber,
this material has good resistance to
most mineral oils and greases and can
be used at temperatures of between
50 and +100 C and for short periods
up to +120 C. These seals can also
tolerate dry running of the lip for brief
periods.
Variants of this material are available
for use with fuels, industrial fluids and
certain synthetic lubricants.
Duralip (X-NBR)
Duralip is a carboxylated nitrile rubber
which combines the good properties
of nitrile rubber with a very high wear
resistance. The material is used for
large seals and Duralip seals should

Relative wear resistance

12
10

10

4
2

flu L
or on
o
ru gLi
bb fe
Lo
er
ng
Li
fe
PT
FE

D
ur
at
em
p

D
ur
al
ip

Le
at
he
r

Po
ly
ac
ry
la
te
N
itr
ile
ru
bb
er

0
Si
lic
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e

necessary radial force, are located in

grooves. These grooves enclose some
180 of the spring ( fig 9a ). The
large seals of the HDS and HS designs
are an exception. They have a SpringLock, one wall of the groove being
extended so that some 270 of the
spring is enclosed ( fig 9b ). Thus
the spring is protected during difficult
and dirty installation conditions and is
prevented from leaving the groove. In
cases where even greater protection
is required for the garter spring, seals
which have the Spring-Lock can also
be supplied fitted with Spring-Kover
( fig 9c ), a flexible cover of elastomer material, so that the spring is completely enclosed.

Temperature, C
300
250

LongLife fluoro rubber

Duratemp

200

Polyacrylate
Duralip

150
100
50
0
-50
Silicone

-100

Leather

Nitrile rubber

LongLife PTFE

The seal

be used where abrasive material such

as scale, sand and grit is likely to
collect at the shaft seal area.
Duratemp (H-NBR)
This is a special hydrogenated nitrile
rubber which offers improved tensile
strength and resistance to wear, heat,
hardening in hot oil, ozone and weathering. In some cases, aerated oils
may be a problem. The operating
temperature range is 30 to +150 C.
Polyacrylate elastomer (ACM)
This material is more heat resistant
than nitrile rubber or Duralip. It can
be used at temperatures between 40
and +150 C and, in the presence of
some fluids, it can even withstand
temperaures up to +175 C. Seals of
this material are resistant to oxidation
and ozone and are well suited for use
with many EP (extreme pressure)
lubricants. They should not be used
with water or aqueous solutions (acids,
alkalis etc.) nor should the lips be
allowed to run dry.
Silicone rubber (MVQ)
Silicone rubber seals can operate at
temperatures ranging from 70 to
+160 C. The material absorbs lubricant, minimising friction and wear.
However, compatibility with oxidised
oils and some EP additives is poor. The
lip should be protected against abrasive contaminants and should not be
allowed to run dry.
LongLife fluoro rubber (FPM)
Fluoro rubber is highly resistant to heat
and chemicals. Fluoro rubber seals can
be used even under arduous environmental conditions at temperatures between 40 and +200 C. The seals are
also resistant to a wide range of chemicals including most of the fuels, hydraulic fluids and special lubricants
which destroy nitrile rubbers, polyacrylate elastomers and silicone rubbers.
The lip can withstand short periods of
dry running.
Their drawback is that, if overheated, they will emit dangerous fumes,
and even after they have cooled down
again, they are dangerous to handle.

10

LongLife PTFE
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) has a
chemical resistance which far exceeds
that of all the materials described above
and the material is mainly used for
special seals. Dry running is permitted
and the operating temperature range
is 70 to +260 C although care should
be taken when using them above
+200 C so that they do not overheat.
The risks are the same as those outlined under fluoro rubber.
Other materials used in seals
The shells and any metallic reinforcements are made of deep drawn carbon steel as standard. Free surfaces
are treated for protection against corrosion. To special order they may be
made of stainless steel although not
for all cross sections and widths.
The garter springs are made of hard
drawn carbon steel wire except those
of the large HDS and HS seals which
are made of stainless steel as standard.
Bore-Tite is a special CR nonhardening material used as a coating
on some sizes of seal with steel outside diameter This green coating is
resistant to most oils, greases,
aqueous acids, alkalis, salts, alcohols
and glycols. It is not compatible with
aromatics, ketones or esters.

The environment
Even the best sealing mechanism
between housing bore and seal outside diameter as well as between sealing lip and shaft counterface cannot
guarantee optimum seal performance.
Besides these geometric considerations, the entire surroundings must
be taken into account. Therefore, the
most important environmental and
operating conditions will be briefly
discussed.
Contamination
Contaminants such as water, dust or
mud do more than just prevent optimum
seal performance. If they enter the bearing area they can pollute the lubricant,
cause corrosion, wear and premature
bearing failure. To prevent bearing
damage, heavy-duty seals with the
sealing lip facing the contaminants are
used. If the amount of contamination is
minimal and the function of the primary
seal is to provide fluid retention, then
a V-ring or a seal with a secondary lip
can be used for exclusion.
Pressure
Standard radial shaft seals perform
best and last longest if the pressure on
both sides of the seal is the same. The
slightest amount of pressure increase
on the inside of the seal will cause the
sealing lip to be pressed against the
counterface, thus widening the path it
traces. Friction will increase in the contact and heat will be generated. The
rise in temperature will cause the seal
to wear rapidly. An extreme excess
pressure in the housing can even force
the seal out of the bore. Permissible

speeds under pressure are given in

the table below ( Table 1 )
Seals used in hydraulic pumps and
motors are exposed to a relatively constant pressure differential. In this type
of application, special seals which are
suitable for differential pressures should
be used. These have shorter lips but
they are more robust. The CR radial
shaft seal for such conditions is the
CRWA5 design. This heavy-duty seal
incorporates a Waveseal lip and can
accommodate pressures of 0,63 MPa
at low circumferential speeds and
0,34 MPa at higher speeds.
Lubrication
For radial shaft seals to perform satisfactorily over a long period of time, it is
essential that adequate lubrication is
provided for the sealing lip. This prevents direct contact between the edge
of the sealing lip and the counterface
and reduces friction and therefore wear.
Dry running of the sealing lip for any
appreciable period of time must be
avoided. For this reason, the counterface should be oiled or greased when
the seal is installed to guarantee initial
lubrication of the sealing lip. However,
dry running can also occur, for example,
when a machine is restarted after a long
period of standing still, as it takes some
time for lubricant to reach the sealing
lip/counterface contact. In such cases,
direct contact between the shaft and
lip increases, causing heavy wear or
stick-slip. Leakage will result and the
sealing lip will possibly be destroyed.
Where seals are not used to retain
lubricant, grease or oil must be supplied
separately to the sealing lip. In exceptional cases, and where there are two

Table 1
Differential
pressure

Shaft speeds
Rotational
Circumferential

max

permissible

max

MPa

r/min

m/s

0,02
0,035
0,05

3 000
2 000
1 000

5,6
3,2
2,8

sealing lips or an additional secondary

(dust) lip, an initial fill of grease in the
free space between the two lips may
be sufficient.
The use of CR LongLife materials
(fluoroelastomers and PTFE) or other
similar wear-resistant lip materials is
recommended to compensate in part
for inadequate lubrication.
Temperature
Both low and high temperatures affect
seal performance. Typical rubber
materials become hard and brittle at
low temperatures. When the lip becomes stiff, it cannot prevent leakage
nor contaminant penetration. The
static sealing between the housing
bore and the radial shaft seal may also
be impaired, e.g. if the seal shell and
housing bore are made of different
materials which contract at different
rates in the cold.
For low temperatures, therefore, a
seal lip material having special low
temperature properties should be considered, particularly if the seal is to
be subjected to temperatures below
50 C. To minimise the thermal
contraction problems outlined above, it
may be sensible to use a seal with an
outside diameter of elastomer.
The use of seals with a rubber outside diameter is also recommended
where temperatures are high and the
housing is of a material which expands
more rapidly than steel.
Friction, shaft speed, high fluid viscosity and heat transfer along the shaft
all contribute to increased temperatures in the thin film of lubricant on
which the sealing lip rides and can
cause the lubricant film to break down.
Lack of lubrication is one of the common causes of early seal failure.
If it is not possible to reduce the
temperature in the lip/counterface
contact zone, a new seal with different
lip material should be used. CR premium seal lip materials, such as LongLife fluoro rubber, have relatively high
thermal and wear resistance and usually last longer than nitrile rubber seals.

Permissible
speeds under
pressure

11

The seal

Speed
The maximum circumferential speed
at the sealing lip at which the seal will
still perform efficiently is determined by
several factors simultaneously. These
include sealing lip material and design,
shaft finish at the counterface, pressure, temperature, shaft eccentricity,
lubrication and cooling of the sealing
lip/counterface contact, and the presence of any chemicals. General guideline values for permissible speeds
will be found in the table opposite
( Table 2 ). The values given are
valid when a mineral oil provides good
lubrication, cooling is adequate, and
there is no pressure differential across
the seal.

Retained fluid
The chemical resistance of the seal to
the fluid which it is to seal is an important selection criterion. If the seal lip
material is not compatible with the fluid
to be retained, the seal will be unable
to prevent leakage. Temperature is also
important. As temperature increases,
any chemical reaction will be accelerated and any aggressiveness will be
heightened.
When the seal is to retain oil it should
be remembered that as temperature
increases, the viscosity of the lubricating oil decreases. Some lubricant
additives may have detrimental effects
on the seal materials.
Further information on the chemical
resistance of the seal materials used

by CR will be found in the SKF catalogue 4006 CR seals which will be

sent on request.
Coaxiality and runout
The eccentricity of the shaft is one of
the many factors influencing the performance and life of a seal. It is expressed as deviations from coaxiality and
runout and should be kept as small as
possible, particularly in cases where
there is a pressure differential across
the seal.
Coaxiality
Deviation from coaxiality is also referred to as shaft-to-bore misalignment
(STBM) i.e. when the centrelines or

Relative seal life, %

100
90
80

LongLife
fluoro rubber

70
60
50
40
30

Nitrile rubber

20
10

80

90

100

110

120

130

Temperature under sealing lip, C

Temperature
Seal life as a function
of temperature

Mean seal life, h

Test conditions
2500

Seal: CRW1, nitrile rubber

Shaft diameter: 76,2 mm
Runout: 0,13 mm
Deviation from coaxiality: 0,13 mm
No. of seals tested: 150

2000

1500

1000

Automotive oil
to API GL-5

500

80

90

100

110

SAE 30 fluid

120

130

140

Temperature, C

12

Lubricant
Seal life as a function
of lubricant

axes of the shaft and housing bore

do not coincide and causes an uneven
force distribution around the sealing
lip. One section of the lip will be more
heavily stressed, leading to an enlargement of the contact of the lip with the
counterface and thus to premature
wear. The opposite section of the lip
will be unloaded and its sealing efficiency reduced.
Runout
Runout (dynamic runout, DRO) is the
dynamic eccentricity of the shaft, or the
amount by which the shaft does not
rotate about the true centre. Particularly at high speeds, there is a danger
that the sealing lip, because of its inertia, will be unable to follow the shaft. If
the distance between the sealing lip
and the counterface on the shaft is
greater than that required to maintain
hydrodynamic lubrication, leakage will
occur. It is therefore recommended
that the seal be positioned as close to
the bearing as possible and that bearing clearance should be as small as
possible. Lip flexibility is important
the closer the lip is to the seal face,
the smaller the runout which can be
tolerated. Thus, by selecting a suitable
seal design and lip material, larger
runouts can be permitted.
Table 2
CR seals
(Design)

Circumferential
speed
max

m/s

Radial shaft seals

CRS, HMS
CRW, CRWA
HDS
HS

14
18
25
7,5 ... 12

Mechanical seals
HDDF

V-ring seals
Without extra location/support
With axial location
With support ring

7
7 ... 12
10 ... 20

Axial clamp seals

CT

25

Permissible
circumferential
speeds

13

The seal

The shaft
15/30
This corner must be
burr-free and blended

To obtain reliable sealing and a sufficiently long service life, the counterface
on the shaft for radial shaft seals should
meet the following requirements.
Shaft material
The seals perform best on medium to
high carbon steel which may be either
through hardened or case hardened to
a surface hardness of the counterface
of 55 HRC or 600 HV, the case depth
should be at least 3 mm. Lower hardness can be permitted, for example,
when circumferential speeds are low,
lubrication is good, or contamination
absent. Ceramic coated and chromium
or nickel-plated surfaces are also
acceptable, provided they are finished
to the recommended surface roughness. Brass, bronze and alloys of aluminium, zinc or magnesium are not
recommended.
Surface finish
The contact area between the sealing
lip and counterface is of vital importance to sealing efficiency. The surface
roughness to ISO 4288 of the counterface should be kept within the following
guideline values:
Ra
Rz
Rmax

ing on the direction of rotation. Plunge

grinding is a suitable method of avoiding directionality.
Tolerances
The shaft diameter d1 in the counterface
area should be machined to tolerance
h11. Deviations from circularity should
be within IT8 ( Table 3 ).
Shaft ends
In order to be able to install the seal
without damaging the sealing lip, shaft
ends (as well as any shoulders) should
have a lead-in or radius ( Table 3 ).
The transitions should be burr-free and
blended.

0,2 ... 0,8 m

1 ... 4 m
6,3 m

Table 3

The surface should not be smoother

than the lower limits for Ra and Rz as
otherwise lubricant supply to the contact may be impaired. The rise in temperature which would result from this,
particularly at high circumferential
speeds, would lead to hardening and
cracking of the seal lip and to premature seal failure. If the surface is too
rough, the seal lip will wear and seal
life will again be foreshortened. If the
value of Rmax is exceeded, the seal
may leak.
The surface should be machined so
that there is no directionality, as otherwise there is a risk of leakage, depend-

Shaft tolerances:
counterface/
chamfer
dimensions

14

Shaft
diameter
Nominal
over
incl.

Shaft diameter
deviations
(Tolerance h11)
high low

Circularity

Chamfer dimensions

(Tolerance IT8)
max

C
min

r
min

mm

mm

mm

10
18

10
18
30

0
0
0

90
110
130

22
27
33

0,75
1
1,25

1
1
1,5

30
50
80

50
80
120

0
0
0

160
190
220

39
46
54

1,7
2
3,5

2
2
4

120
180
250

180
250
315

0
0
0

250
290
320

63
72
81

3,5
3,5
5,5

4
4
6

315
400
500

400
500
630

0
0
0

360
400
440

89
97
110

5,5
5,5
6,5

6
6
7

630
800
1 000

800
1 000
1 250

0
0
0

500
560
660

125
140
165

6,5
7
7

7
8
8

1 250

1 600

780

195

The housing bore

The requisite interference fit, the correct
static sealing and proper seal installation will be assured if the housing bore
meets the demands outlined below.
The following recommendations apply
to housings of steel or cast iron.
Tolerances
The bore in the housing (diameter d2)
should be machined to tolerance H8
( Table 4 ). The tolerances for the
outside diameter of the seal of steel or
elastomer are included to enable the
probable interference between housing
bore and seal outside diameter to be
calculated.
Surface finish
It is recommended that the surface
roughness to ISO 4288 of the housing
bore should be kept within the following
limts. For seals with rubber or Bore-Tite
coated steel outside diameters:
Ra
Rz
Rmax

1,6 ... 6,3 m

10 ... 25 m
25 m

and for seals with steel outside diameter without coating:

Ra
Rz
Rmax

15/30

Chamfer width
2,3 mm for 15
1,5 mm for 30
This corner must be
burr-free and blended

Bore-Tite coating
CR applies a coating of Bore-Tite to
the outside diameter of selected seals
with steel shells as standard. Bore-Tite
is a water-based polyacrylate sealant
which is green in colour. It is non-hardening and fills slight irregularities in
the housing bore. In most cases the
elastic Bore-Tite coating provides an
adequate static seal between the seal
outside diameter and the housing
bore.
Bore-Tite is resistant to most oils,
greases, aqueous acids, alkalis, salts,
alcohols and glycols. It is not compatible with aromatics, ketones or esters.

0,8 ... 3,2 m

6,3 ... 10 m
10 m

Table 4

Lead-in
In order for the seal not to be damaged
when it is being installed, the leading
or entering edge of the bore should be
made according to the illustration
above.

Housing bore and

seal outside diameter tolerances

Housing bore/seal
outside diameter
Nominal
over
incl.

Bore diameter
deviation
(Tolerance H8)
high
low

Seal outside diameter tolerances

Steel
Rubber

mm

high

low

high

low

18
30

18
30
50

+27
+33
+39

0
0
0

+200
+200
+200

+80
+80
+80

+300
+300
+300

+150
+150
+150

50
80
120

80
120
180

+46
+54
+63

0
0
0

+230
+250
+280

+90
+100
+120

+350
+350
+450

+200
+200
+250

180
250
300

250
300
315

+72
+81
+81

0
0
0

+350
+350
+450

+150
+150
+200

+450
+450
+550

+250
+250
+300

315
400
500

400
500
630

+89
+97
+110

0
0
0

+450
+450
+500

+200
+200
+220

+550
+550

+300
+300

630
800
1 000

800
1 000
1 250

+125
+145
+165

0
0
0

+500
+550
+600

+240
+250
+270

1 250

1 600

+195

+650

+300

15

Sealing arrangement design guide

Seal selection

type of lubrication,
circumferential speed of the sealing
lip, and
coaxiality deviations and runout,
the choice is also affected by the environmental conditions and how they
affect the seal from chemical, mechanical and thermal points of view.
The available space, efficiency requirements and last but not least economic considerations must all be taken
into account when selecting a seal.
Depending on the application, one or
more of the influencing factors will
dominate. Therefore, it is not possible
to establish general rules for seal
selection. The following recommendations are intended to highlight the properties of the various seal designs and
to facilitate selection.
The matrix provides an overview of
the seals, their design characteristics
16

(very good)
(good)
(normal)
(satisfactory)
(poor)

D
P
R
V

Duralip (special nitrile rubber)

Polyacrylate elastomer
Nitrile rubber
Fluoro rubber
Special design/execution
to order
( ) Option

Shell (outside
diameter)

Seal types
CRS1

CRSA1

CRW1

CRWA1

HDS1, 2

Sealing lip
(primary)

normal

R, V

HMSA27
Bore-Tite

normal

R,V

Bore-Tite

Waveseal

R, V (P)

Bore-Tite

Waveseal

R, V (P)

normal

R, D, V

normal

R, D, V

normal

normal

R, V (P)

normal

R, V (P)

R, V (P)

normal

R, V (P)

R, D, V
one-piece

normal

R, D, V

R, D (V)
split

normal

R, D (V)

Secondary
lip

a = rubbing
b = non-rubbing

Signs and symbols

+ + + Very well suited
++
Well suited
+
Suitable

Less suitable

Unsuitable

Material

They should also perform efficiently

with a minimum of friction and wear in
critical applications and where operating conditions are unfavourable.
To meet the requirements, CR seals
are produced in many designs and
different materials. Each different
execution, because of its design and
material, exhibits special properties
which make it particularly suitable for
a given application.
Many factors influence the choice of
seal. As well as the operating conditions, these include

Design

Design

retain lubricant,
exclude contaminants,
separate fluids or gases, and
withstand differential pressures.

CR Seals: design and properties

Elastomer

This matrix can only provide a rough guide and the final seal selection should
only be made after a more detailed examination of sealing properties with
respect to the actual operating conditions and environment. If several seal designs and materials are shown together then the ratings apply to the specified
design/material.

Steel

CR seals are intended to seal the

interface between a rotating and a
non-rotating machine component
or between components in relative
motion. Their purpose is to

CRSH1

CRSHA1

HMSA27

CRWH1

CRWHA1

a: CRS(H)A
b: HMSA27

HDS3

HDSA1,2
Radial
shaft
seals

HMS1

HMSA1, 2, 3
a

HMS4

HMSA7

HS5

HS6, 7, 8

Mechanical seals HDDF

V-ring seals VR

Axial clamp seals CT

Steel

R (V)

R (V)

and their suitability for different application conditions.

A more detailed presentation of the
seals and their properties as well as
the available range will be found in the
catalogue CR seals. The matrix can
only provide a rather rough classification of the seal designs as differentiation is limited by the number of symbols used.

Suitability

Housing bore/
outside diameter

Sealing lip/
counterface

Sliding speeds
14 m/s

Sliding speeds
> 14 m/s

Temperatures
100 C

Temperatures
> 100 C

Runout

Coaxiality deviation

Grease

Oil

Moderate particulate
contamination

Heavy particulate
contamination

Media

+++
CRSH

++

+++
CRSH

++

++

+++
CRWHA

++

+++
CRW5

++

++

+++

+++
CRWHA

++

+++
CRWA5

++

++

+++

++

+++

++

++

++

++

++

+++

++

++

++

++

++

+++

++

++

++

++

++

++

++

++

++

++

++

++

++

++

++

++

++

++

++

++

++

+++

++

++

++

++

++

++

++

+++

+++

+++

+++

+++

+++

+++

+++

++

++

++

+++

+++

+++

+++

++

Tight fit

Ease of installation

Media

Split housing bore

Operating conditions

Thermal expansion

Pressure
differential

Rough surface

Seating conditions

+++

17

Seal selection

Grease retention

Oil retention

Greases are generally easy to retain in a bearing arrangement because of their relatively high consistency. This,
therefore, places comparatively small demands on the
seal and most types of seal can be used.
Radial shaft seals without garter spring, e.g. the CR HM
design, are very suitable where circumferential speeds are
low. They should be installed with their lip facing the grease,
i.e. for bearing arrangements, the lip should point inwards.
However, spring-loaded radial shaft seals are equally
suitable for grease retention. If frequent relubrication is
required, it is recommended that at least one of the seals
is mounted with its lip facing outwards. This enables excess
grease to escape past the sealing lip, thus preventing a
build-up of grease and the consequent generation of heat.
In cases where it cannot be guaranteed that grease will be
supplied to the sealing lip, it is recommended that a seal
with secondary lip is used and the space between the two
lips filled with grease. Because of the unfavourable cooling
conditions associated with grease lubrication, the permissible
speeds are only approximately half those for the same seal,
when it is used for oil retention.
In addition to radial shaft seals, without or with garter
spring, V-ring seals and felt seals are also appropriate for
grease lubrication.

Lubricating oils, particularly those with low viscosity, are

more difficult to retain in a bearing arrangement than
greases. Therefore, radial shaft seals with garter spring
are used almost exclusively, e.g. CR seals of the CRW1
or HMS4 designs.
Where operating conditions are rough, contamination
heavy and circumferential speeds relatively low, mechanical seals of the HDDF design are particularly suitable.
In normal cases, CRW1 seals with a hydrodynamically
formed Waveseal lip are adequate. This lip has a sinusoidally formed sealing edge which has an axial pumping
action inwards as well as outwards, irrespective of the
direction of shaft (or housing) rotation. When the sealing
position should also be protected against dust or other fine
solid contaminants, the use of a radial shaft seal with
secondary (dust) lip, e.g. of the CRWA1 design, is recommended.
V-ring seals can also be used to retain oil. They should
be arranged on the oil side and be axially supported on the
shaft.

HM14

18

CRW1

V-ring

Felt seal

CRWA1

HMS4

HMSA7

HDDF

Exclusion

Exclusion/retention

V-ring seals are excellent for keeping contaminants out.

They rotate with the shaft, act as flingers, and seal against
a counterface at right angles to the shaft.
When radial shaft seals are used primarily to exclude
contaminants, the sealing lip should face outwards. Where
circumferential speeds are low and operating conditions
normal, virtually all types of radial shaft seal can be used.
Where operating conditions are unfavourable or arduous,
the use of Waveseal designs with hydrodynamic sealing
aids is recommended, e.g. of the CRW or heavy-duty HDS
designs. To reinforce the sealing effect, two seals can be
mounted in tandem or a double lip seal with the lips arranged in tandem can be used.
Alternatively, a V-ring seal or CT axial clamp seal can be
mounted outside the radial shaft seal. This prevents coarse
contaminants from penetrating to the sealing lip of the radial
shaft seal. The sealing lip of the V-ring or axial clamp seal
can run against the face of the housing or against the back
face of the radial shaft seal.

Contaminant exclusion and lubricant retention are often

equally important. In many cases the use of a radial shaft
seal of the CRWA design which has a secondary (dust) lip
will provide adequate protection.
Another way of solving the problem is to use two seals
with their lips pointing in opposite directions, e.g. two CRW
or two HDS seals.
Highly efficient, double direction seals can be obtained
using two opposing V-rings with an intermediate machined
thrust washer as the counterface for both seals.
For extremely difficult environmental conditions it is preferable to use CR mechanical seals of the HDDF design,
provided the sliding speed of the sealing surfaces is within
the permissible range.

CRW1

HDS2

CT3

;;

V-ring

2 HDS3

2 V-ring

19

Seal selection

Separating two liquids

Containing high pressure

In cases where it is necessary to separate two liquids from

each other, two different solutions are available, the choice
being governed essentially by the space available and by
the required sealing efficiency.
The first solution is to use two radial shaft seals with their
lips pointing in opposite directions (back-to-back).
The second is to use radial shaft seals of the HDSD or
D designs which also have their two lips pointing in different
directions.
Radial shaft seals used for the separation of two liquids
must always have spring-loaded lips. Where there is a risk
that one or both sealing lips can run dry, it is recommended
that the space between the two lips is filled with a rolling
bearing grease which will then provide an adequate lubricant film.

Special radial shaft seals are usually required if there is a

considerable differential pressure across the seal. Standard
seals can normally only withstand differential pressures of
0,07 MPa maximum, and only at relatively low circumferential speeds.
CR radial shaft seals of the CRWA5 and CRW5 designs
are able to withstand pressure differentials of up to 0,63 MPa
at circumferential speeds of up to 5 m/s.
When a seal is under pressure, the sealing lip will be
pressed harder against the counterface so that friction and
temperature will increase in the contact. If speeds are high,
this will lead to accelerated wear which will considerably
shorten the life of both seal and counterface. It is therefore
necessary to balance pressure and circumferential speed
against each other in such applications.
Occasional pressure differentials may make the use of a
second seal necessary. A radial shaft seal can be used with
its lip directed towards the higher pressure, or a V-ring, with
its lip pointing towards the low pressure side is also suitable.
Where differential pressures exist, it is necessary to provide some form of axial retention for the seal at the low pressure side to prevent it from being pressed out of the housing
bore. Where standard seals are used, it is also advisable to
provide support for the sealing lip so that the force on it produced by the excess pressure will be reduced.

2 CRW1

20

HDSD2

CRW5

CRWA5

HDW1

HDS3

Restricted space

Installation restrictions

;
Often the available space is insufficient for a standard radial
shaft seal. A special seal design with narrow shell or low
cross section is required, or a V-ring seal can be fitted outside the seal cavity.
Where radial and axial space are limited and large-diameter shafts are involved, radial shaft seals of the HS design
can be used.
For cases where a V-ring can be used, an economic sealing arrangement will be achieved; the V-ring seals are very
simple to install. The V-ring seals axially, exerting a light
pressure on the counterface, which may be a stationary, or
even rotating, machine component.

HMS1

HS5

HS8

V-ring

Where it is difficult, or even impossible, to install a seal either

during assembly or maintenance, by passing it over the end
of a shaft, V-ring seals, or split radial shaft seals of the HS6,
HS7 and HS8 designs may be the solution.
These are all-rubber seals without any reinforcement and
are easy to install. Once on the shaft they are held together
by the garter spring which is joined by a control wire or
threaded connector, or by a hook and eye. They should be
axially secured in the housing bore by a cover plate, which
may be either split or in one piece.
Split HS seals, depending on their design, are suitable
for circumferential speeds of up to 7,5 to 10 m/s. They are
available for shaft diameters from 170 to 4 500 mm (approximately).
The V-ring seals are elastic and can be stretched. They
may therefore be mounted by stretching over other components. If, however, the exchange of a V-ring seal entails the
time-consuming dismounting of various components it is
strongly advisable where the particular bearing arrangement permits to mount one or two spare seals on the shaft
during the initial assembly. In this way the worn V-ring can
easily be removed by cutting and the replacement ring
quickly and simply located in the desired position.

CRWH1

HDS3

V-rings

21

Sealing arrangement design guide

Seal installation
No matter how well constructed a seal
is, or how well suited it is for an application, incorrect installation will prevent it
from performing properly. In fact, improper installation resulting from lack
of knowledge or care (including cleanliness) is the most common cause of
premature seal failure.
Since radial shaft seals should have
an interference fit in the housing bore,
the use of a mechanical or hydraulic
press with suitable accessories is recommended when mounting. It is very
important that the pressure is applied
evenly around the whole circumference of the seal and preferably as close
as possible to the outside diameter. If
a suitable press is not available a softfaced mallet and bearing cup or mounting dolly can be used. Blows to the
seal itself should be avoided, so as
not to damage the sealing lip. It is also
possible to use a wooden block and
hammer to drive the seal home.

22

Guidelines for proper installation

Check that the dimensions of the selected seal match those of shaft
and bore.

Check the new seal for any damage (dents, scores or cuts). Never use
damaged seals. Carefully clean the seal if it has become dirty.

Chamfer and blend the housing bore corner to prevent damage to the
outside surface of the seal.

Check to see that the counterface on the shaft is undamaged (no

bruises, scratches, cracks, rust or raised areas).

All shaft edges over which the seal has to be passed must be chamfered or rounded.

Lightly grease or oil the seal before installation.

After installation, check to see that other machine components or shaft

shoulders do not rub against the seal.

After installation
Once radial shaft seals have been
installed, care should be taken to see
that they do not become contaminated,
e.g. with paint, if the equipment is to
be painted. This also applies to the
counterface area on the shaft. The
seals can be protected during painting
by cardboard discs, for example. Any
housing vents should also be masked
so that they do not become clogged.
After painting has been completed, all
the masking material must be removed
before operating the equipment.
If painted or lacquered equipment is
to be baked or unpainted equipment is
to be heated for any reason, care
should be taken not to apply direct
heat to the seals and to ensure that
they are not heated to a higher temperature than the maximum permissible
for the material.
If seals have to be cleaned, e.g. for
inspection, warm soapy water (not
above 30 C) can be used, and the
seals should be allowed to dry at room
temperature. Solvents such as trichloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride or hydrocarbons should be avoided. Sharpedged objects, wire brushes, emery
cloth, sand paper etc. should not be
used.

Before installing the seal, check that

housing bore and shaft are clean and
apply lubricant to seal.

As the seal outside diameter is slightly

larger than the housing bore, the use of a
press and mounting tool is recommended,
so that the force can be applied evenly
around the seal and that the seal will be
properly seated in the bore.

If no suitable tools are available, a wooden

block and hammer can be used. To avoid
skewing of the seal the blows should be
applied centrally.

23

Sealing arrangement design guide

Repairing worn shafts

When replacing seals, the counterface
area on the shaft should always be
checked for wear and other damage.
Excessive water, heavy contamination,
high temperatures, inadequate seal lip
lubrication and high speeds can all
cause the seal lip to wear a groove in
the counterface. Once this has happened, simply installing a new seal will not
prevent leakage, and the shaft must
be repaired. This may involve costly
reworking of the shaft which normally
means dismantling the equipment
and attendant downtime. CR SpeediSleeves have been designed to provide a fresh counterface surface in
minutes. They are simply pushed over
the damaged counterface making the
shaft as good as new at a minimum
cost.
Speedi-Sleeves
These shaft repair sleeves are extremely thin-walled and enable the original
seal size to be used. It is not necessary to keep extra seal sizes in stock or
to make special records. The standard
Speedi-Sleeve range is for shaft sizes
of 12 to 200 mm diameter. All sizes
have a wall thickness of 0,254 mm.
The sleeves are made of high quality
stainless steel and have a hardness of
95 HRB. The surface finish lies between
Ra = 0,25 and 0,5 m and is without
machine lead (directionality). In many
cases they provide a better counterface
for the sealing lip than the original shaft
seating. Normally, the Speedi-Sleeve
can be mounted directly on the cleaned
shaft, but if the surface is scored or
otherwise damaged, it may be beneficial to apply an epoxy filler just before
the Speedi-Sleeve is installed.
To determine which size of SpeediSleeve to use, the shaft should be carefully cleaned and the diameter measured in three planes at 120 at an
undamaged position. The arithmetical
mean of these measurements is used
24

to select a suitable size of sleeve.

Provided the mean value is within the
diameter range of the sleeve, it will
have a sufficient interference fit on the
shaft and will not wander. No adhesive
is required.
LDSLV repair sleeves
For larger shafts (from approximately
200 to approximately 1 250 mm diameter) LDSLV repair sleeves are available. These are made of high-strength,
hot-rolled steel, are surface treated, and
have a hardness of 96 HRB. The wall
thickness is 2,4 mm. The outside contact surface for the seal is fine machined and chromium plated to enhance its
wear and corrosion resistance.
There are two alternative ways of
employing LDSLV repair sleeves. Either
an appropriate sleeve is mounted on
the shaft over the damaged counterface, and a seal which has a 4,8 mm
larger bore than the original used as
the replacement, or the shaft can be
machined down by 4,8 mm. In this
latter case the original size of seal can
be used as the replacement.

Use the average of three shaft diameter

measurements taken in planes at 120
when selecting sleeve size

Place flanged end of Speedi-Sleeve on to

shaft first

Gently apply the installation tool (supplied

with sleeve) over the sleeve until it abuts
the flange.

Gently tap the centre of the installation tool

using a soft-faced hammer or mallet until
the sleeve reaches its correct position.

When the sleeve has been correctly positioned, the flange can be removed if desired.

25

Sealing arrangement design guide

Seal maintenance
When to inspect and replace
Unlike bearing life, seal life cannot be
calculated. The purpose of seals is
to contain lubricants and exclude contaminants, and their role is sacrificial
when they are used to protect bearings, i.e. they are used to help the bearing achieve its required life. As seal
failure is almost entirely governed by
environmental conditions, the only life
formula which can be applied to seals
is experience.
As the environment plays such a
dominant part in determining seal life,
and as the amount of contamination
the seal encounters influences its usefulness, it may be expected that a seal
operating in a dirty, dusty environment,
or one subjected to routine wash-downs
will not last nearly as long as a seal
used in a clean, dry environment.
Machine operating cycles, shaft
speeds and operating temperatures
all influence maintenance and replacement intervals. One thing is certain,
however, and that is that seals are the
components of a bearing arrangement
which keep lubricant in the arrangement and keep it clean so that long
bearing life can be realised.
Seal replacement should not automatically entail simply replacing the
seal with a new one of exactly the same
design. If it is found that the oil has
become dirty, for example, it may be
worthwhile upgrading the whole sealing
arrangement. A tougher, more chemically resistant material may be called
for, or additional sealing elements may
be required to ward off contaminants.
Generally speaking, a seal should
be replaced just as soon as the first
signs of wear or leakage are discovered.
There are other causes of premature
seal failure besides contamination.
Improper installation
A common cause of early failure arises
during installation. The seal may be
26

allowed to get dirty, the lip is not properly lubricated at the start, correct
tools are not used, or the seal is not
properly seated in its housing. These
problems can be rectified through proper training in mounting procedures.
Change of lubricant
Frequently, new lubricants with additive packages are introduced with a
view to extending service intervals for
machinery and equipment. However,
many of these additives can produce
negative reactions in the sealing materials. If rapid seal failures suddenly
start to occur where none has been
experienced before, the cause may be
a changeover to an improved lubricant.
Wrong replacement seal
A simple error in taking the wrong part
number or designation can result in
sudden mysterious seal failure, e.g. a
nitrile rubber seal might be installed
instead of a much more resistant fluoro
rubber seal, although the design is
otherwise identical.
Wrong seal choice
The choice of a seal which is unsuitable for the particular application is
also a cause of premature seal failure.
A systematic investigation of such seal
failures by an expert will soon expose
the cause. If adequate experience is
not available in-house it is advisable to
either conduct trials or to contact SKF
for assistance with the selection.

Seal check list

The seal should be properly stored in a cool, dust-free, moderately

ventilated room, preferably at temperatures of between +15 and +25 C
and a relative humidity below 65 %.

The original packaging should be intact and the seal should be kept
lying down in the original packaging until immediately before use.
Seals should never be hung from pegs or nails.

The correct installation tools should be available.

The work area should be clean and protected against dirt from the
environment.

The chosen seal should be checked to see that its maximum permissible circumferential speed will not be exceeded.

The chosen seal should be checked to see that it can withstand the
media involved.

The chosen seal should be checked to see that it is suitable for the
operating temperature.

The lubricant to be used (including additives) must be compatible with

the seal material.

The counterface region of the shaft should have a hardness appropriate to the application, but at least 35 HRC.

The counterface should be machined to tolerance h11 and have a form

tolerance to IT8.

The surface should have a roughness Ra of 0,25 to 0,5 m and be

without machine lead.

The shaft end and any edges over which the seal must pass, should be
chamfered or rounded.

The housing bore should be machined to tolerance H8.

The housing bore should have a lead-in of up to 30 to facilitate mounting.

The deviation from coaxiality should be within the permissible limits

(e.g. max. 0,25 mm for a shaft diameter of 75 mm).

The runout should be within the permissible limits (e.g. max. 0,25 mm
for a shaft diameter of 75 mm).

Whenever possible, the equipment should be vented to minimise the

pressure differential across the seal.

By checking the points listed and following the advice, the service life of the
seal, and of any bearing it protects, will
be maximised. For additional information on the selection and use of seals,
please contact SKF.

27

A brief history
of CR Industries
CR Industries was founded in
America in 1878 as Chicago
Rawhide. The company cured or
tanned hides, which were natural
by-products of the busy Chicago stockyards, and turned them into rawhide
leather belting. These were the belts
that literally drove the industrial development of the American
Midwest.
In the early 1900s CR worked closely with Henry Ford
and other automotive pioneers to produce leather products
for early automobiles. In 1928, the company patented the
first self-contained shaft seal, initially designed for use in
automobile wheel hubs.
In the mid-1930s, CR pioneered the development of
custom formulating, compounding and moulding of elastomers (synthetic rubber) to develop higher performance sealing materials. This produced other innovations in manufacturing processes, new sealing techniques and expanded
industrial applications.
Today, CR is the worlds leading supplier of fluid sealing
devices for the truck, automotive, agricultural machinery and
machine tool industries. CR also produces seals for
aerospace applications, earth moving equipment, household appliances and a wide variety of pumps, hydraulic
systems, motors and sub-assemblies.
The CR range comprises more than 200 types of seal,
over 3 000 stock sizes and over 10 000 variants for the shaft
diameter range of 3 to 4 500 mm. CR has an ongoing programme of work to improve the performance and reliability
of their products. New sealing units, for example, for the
automotive industry, and the development of new materials
and processes will further expand the range of applications.
CR has received quality manufacturing awards from more
than 200 companies. The company has been part of the
SKF Group since 1990.

29

The SKF Group

a worldwide corporation
SKF is an international industrial Group
operating in some 130 countries and is
world leader in bearings.
The company was founded in 1907
following the invention of the self-aligning ball bearing by Sven Wingquist and,
after only a few years, SKF began to
expand all over the world.
Today, SKF has some 42 000 employees and more than 80 manufacturing facilities spread throughout the
world. An international sales network
includes a large number of sales companies and over 7 000 distributors and
retailers. Worldwide availability of SKF
products is supported by a comprehensive technical advisory service.
The key to success has been a consistent emphasis on maintaining the
highest quality of its products and
services. Continuous investment in research and

30

development has also played a vital

role, resulting in many examples of
epoch-making innovations.
The business of the Group consists
of bearings, seals, special steel and a
comprehensive range of other hightech industrial components. The experience gained in these various fields
provides SKF with the essential knowledge and expertise required in order
to provide the customers with the most
advanced engineering products and
efficient service.

The SKF house colours are blue and red,

but the thinking is green. The latest example
is the new factory in Malaysia, where the
bearing component cleaning process conforms to the strictest ecological standards.
Instead of trichloroethylene, a water-based
cleaning fluid is used in a closed system.
The cleaning fluid is recycled in the factory's
own treatment plant.

The SKF Engineering & Research Centre

is situated just outside Utrecht in The
Netherlands. In an area of 17 000 square
metres (185 000 sq.ft) some 150 scientists,
engineers and support staff are engaged in
the further improvement of bearing performance. They are developing technologies
aimed at achieving better materials, better
designs, better lubricants and better seals
together leading to an even better understanding of the operation of a bearing in its
application. This is also where the SKF New
Life Theory was evolved, enabling the
design of bearings which are even more
compact and offer even longer operational
life.

SKF has developed the Channel concept in

factories all over the world. This drastically
reduces the lead time from raw material to
end product as well as work in progress
and finished goods in stock. The concept
enables faster and smoother information
flow, eliminates bottlenecks and bypasses
unnecessary steps in production. The
Channel team members have the knowledge and commitment needed to share the
responsibility for fulfilling objectives in areas
such as quality, delivery time, production
flow etc.

SKF manufactures ball bearings, roller

bearings and plain bearings. The smallest
are just a few millimetres (a fraction of an
inch) in diameter, the largest several metres.
In order to protect the bearings effectively
against the ingress of contamination and
the escape of lubricant, SKF also manufactures oil and bearing seals. SKF's
subsidiaries CR Industries and RFT S.p.A.
are among the world's largest producers
of seals.

31

 Copyright SKF 1995

Publication 4293/I E
Reg. 751 8 000 1995-03