With up to 70% of electricity used in factories coming from electric motor systems, seals though thought to make a small, insignificant component, actually reduce power consumption attributable by 15 to 25W, a direct result of reduced friction.
Thus, sealing technology firm Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has launched its Stefa radial shaft seal portfolio designed to redefine performance standards under extreme application conditions. The range has been created for by high-volume production, 24/7 manufacturing, rapid machinery movement and the necessity to minimise downtime and cost while maximising operational efficiency, it adds.
Inderjeet Singh, Global Product Line Director Rotary Seals, says: “Meticulously engineered to reduce frictional torque, the new Stefa seals lower energy consumption and increase uptime, lowering costs. Breaking conventional design methodologies, these seals deliver more consistent sealing performance over a longer period of time.”
He adds that the portfolio is proven to outperform conventional rotary seals, providing customers with “efficient, durable solutions to the extreme duty cycles, higher speeds and challenging operating conditions of today’s rotary sealing systems.”
Two new sealing profiles make up the range. The TRA type is designed without a dust lip for minimal frictional torque, making it ideal for clean environments where contamination isn’t a significant concern and space is limited.
The TRE type features a dust lip for robust protection in contaminant-prone environments. It protects rotary applications even in environments that require high ingress prevention while maintaining operational efficiency.
Created from proprietary materials, the portfolio offers leak-free sealing and wider chemical compatibility for challenging applications, proving their capability at faster rotary speeds, in harsh temperatures and across heavy-duty cycles, adds Trelleborg.
Furthermore, the seals reduce wear, extending maintenance intervals and increasing operational efficiency. Reduced frictional torque across all shaft diameters, including smaller ones, means they outperform both conventional and competitor designs to lower energy costs and increase sustainability for customers and end-users.
The seals are targeted at applications including gearboxes and speed reducers, motors including AC/DC, induction and servo, pumps and fans, conveyor systems, index tables, machine tools and robotics.