ThyssenKrupp Expanding Rothe Erde

ThyssenKrupp Expanding Rothe Erde ThyssenKrupp AG (Germany) said it is making large investments in its Rothe Erde large bearing division, aiming to at least double the division's output by 2010. ThyssenKrupp is a vast manufacturing conglomerate, covering industries from steel to nickel to all types of manufacturing and services worldwide.Rothe Erde is a major manufacturer of large slewing ring bearings; rings of stainless steel and nonferrous metals; and turntables and related components. Slewing ring bearings are available as single-piece units in diameters up to 8,000mm. Larger bearings are manufactured in segments. The move comes as demand for very large bearings, particularly from the wind energy market, continue to outstrip capacity at many manufacturers, including Rothe Erde. Other than wind energy turbines, applications include telescopes, excavators, large cranes, swing bridges, elevators, mining equipment, steel mills, water turbines, rail vehicles, buses, and many others. Rothe Erde slewing bearings are manufactured at plants in Dortmund and Lippstadt in Germany, and by operations in Brazil, China (since 2002), Japan, Italy, Spain, the UK, and the United States. Plants currently undergoing expansion are Dortmund, India, Japan and China. With the company itself dating to 1855, Rothe Erde has been manufacturing slewing ring bearings and turntables since 1934.