KS Gleitlager Providing Lead-Free Bearings To Help

KS Gleitlager Providing Lead-Free Bearings To Help Meet Stringent Environmental Standards KS Gleitlager is producing metallic and steel-backed polymer based bearings that are helping North American carmakers meet today¡¯s more stringent environmental mandates. The bearings, which are lead-free, are intended for engine, transmission, drivetrain, suspension and chassis applications for both passenger cars and light trucks. ¡°Today¡¯s carmakers are searching for technology solutions to help them meet their environmental targets of reduced emissions,¡± said Mike Adrian, KS Gleitlager vice president of North America sales. ¡°Our new metallic and polymer bearings are an enabling technology that allows us to offer the same high performance characteristics our customers have come to expect, with the added advantage of being more environmentally friendly,¡± The new bearings are made of aluminum and copper-based metals and polymers that have eliminated lead completely. This is a significant advantage over traditional plain bearings that are made of a variety of materials that are layered together, many carrying environmentally detrimental lead content. Important to the development of these bearings was ensuring that they could meet the high load, speed and temperature characteristics required of their work environment. The new KS Gleitlager have been tested extensively and meet and often exceed the requirements set forth by OEMs. ¡°Our new bearing products, that include bushings and thrust washers, make us one of the only manufacturers in the industry to offer both metallic and polymer bearings,¡± added Adrian. ¡°This is another important advantage we have in that we are one supplier that carmakers can come to with a diverse portfolio of powertrain products that help satisfy a number of their environmental goals.¡± KS Gleitlager, a division of Kolbenschmidt Pierburg, is a major manufacturer of engine bearings, journal bearings, bushings, flanged bushings and thrust washers for the global automotive industry.