Explorer is a new generation of SKF spherical roller bearings that provide previously unattainable benefits in a wide range of applications.

Explorer bearings afford several times longer life than standard spherical roller bearings. The new bearings’ extended lives offer valuable downsizing or upgrading opportunities for engineers working on both new and existing designs. Explorer bearings make it possible to reduce overall dimensions, achieve material cost and weight reductions, and also increase energy efficiency. A smaller bearing runs cooler and generates less vibration. Furthermore, an Explorer bearing with lower cross section can allow the use of a larger shaft and yield a stiffer design.

Explorer bearings are dimensionally interchangeable with conventional spherical roller bearings and can also be used to upgrade an existing machine. By changing to Explorer bearings, for example, torque can be increased by 15 to 25 percent in a gearbox, depending on the operating conditions. The new bearings are available in sealed and unsealed versions.

The new bearings have been extensively tested at the SKF Engineering and Research Centre (ERC) in the Netherlands. Performance enhancements, which contribute to the longer lives, come from engineering improvements made at the micro and macro levels.