Steel mills are one of the harshest possible environments for bearings and seals. The heat, vibration, water and contamination present in a mill all combine to create a brutal atmosphere. The large rolls that are used to form the steel are a key link in the production process. When the bearing on a roll fails, the line can be completely shut down, stopping production and causing the mill to lose significant time and money. Seal failure and, inevitably, bearing failure have been a constant problem for mills.

   The engineers at Chicago Rawhide set out to design a seal that would last longer, protect better and be easier to install. The result was the Chicago Rawhide EP-2000TM; the first seal developed in several years specifically designed for demanding mill applications.

   First, CR engineers examined existing seal designs. More importantly, they surveyed mill managers and maintenance personnel about their experiences with current seals. The primary concern for managers was minimizing downtime by protecting roll bearings more effectively.
   Maintenance people asked for a seal that not only offered improved bearing protection, but was also easier to work with and install. There was a real need for a superior seal in the mill market. Chicago Rawhide’s EP-2000 was engineered to meet those needs.

   Chicago Rawhide operates one of the world’s largest seal testing facilities. CR engineers put the lab to good use to subject their new EP-2000 Series seals to the harshest tests they could devise. And, the EP-2000 proved itself a world class seal. Under the severe test parameters (including a direct, continuous water stream at 1750F), the new EP-2000 Series seals were twice as effective in excluding water as the steel industry’s most commonly used seal. The unique design of the EP-2000 is a product of combined research and development by Chicago Rawhide elastomeric and SKF steel industry specialists, and that experience proved its value during the grueling lab test cycles.

   Chicago Rawhide didn’t stop at the laboratory. Real world testing in steel mills around the globe saw the EP-2000 pass with flying colors. Prototype seals were tested at plants located in the U.S., Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The results from these plants were as positive as the test lab experience. The new seals were standing up to the harshest industrial conditions and outlasting the competition by 50% or better. The EP-2000 series seal proved twice as tough – in the lab and in the mill.

   The end product is a seal that excludes water and retains grease – the bearing’s first line of defense – against the intense mill environment. The advanced lip design of this seal also functions as a spring, so there is no metal spring to fail and cause damage. A one-piece steel cup provides further seal integrity. Chicago Rawhide is producing a full range of EP-2000 seals to fit both inch and metric shaft sizes 8” – 62” (200mm – 1575mm), covering 5/8” – 1 1/4” (16mm – 32mm) cross section and width.

   Mills worldwide have responded favorably to the
EP-2000, experiencing much longer service life and easier installation.