The Schaeffler Group at the 2004 IMTS in Chicago:

INA-Schaeffler KG and FAG Kugelfischer AG - two strong companies that will demonstrate once again their expertise at the "2004 IMTS" (booth no. D-4602) with a large number of system solutions. Both of these Schaeffler Group member companies belong to the most well-known suppliers of machine tool components. In line with the company strategy to offer customers complete and perfectly matched systems, INA-Schaeffler KG has recently made some high quality additions to its product range. Besides the systems supplier L-A-T Suhl AG, another company that belongs to the INA Group is präTEC - Präzisionstechnik GmbH, specializing in the development and manufacture of linear drives and torque motors. "Together, we can now supply our customers with bearing and drive technology for the entire machine tool system: from the rotary table to the x axis all the way down to the work spindle," explained Helmut Bode, director of the Production Machinery division at INA and FAG. "This clearly sets us apart from our competitors." No other suppliers have such a broad spectrum of high quality solutions in their product range. The focus at the IMTS will primarily be on new developments for linear guides, direct drives, rotary tables and spindle bearings as well as machine tool monitoring. INA's highlights are clear: In addition to the rotary table bearings YRTS, the spotlight will also be on the new roller type and ball type profiled rail units RUE.E and KUVE. Thanks to the targeted optimization of the raceway system, the YRTS bearings - with an S for 'speed' - offer a 70 percent reduction in the friction coefficient. In this way, the friction torque increase with increasing speed, typical for this bearing design, can be eliminated almost entirely. For YRTS size 325 a grease limit speed of n = 800 rpm can be achieved, which is eight times higher than for the YRT standard model, thus providing more reliability and longer life. To allow customers to have reliable control over their machine tools, INA has also developed an angle measuring system for high speed rotary tables. The YRTMS is a solution that is especially suitable when requirements call for a torque motor - without having to do without the technologically ingenious idea of an angle measurement system that is integrated in the bearing. INA roller type profiled rail units RUE have been used successfully in applications worldwide for many years now. For the IMTS show, INA linear technology engineers have developed a new generation. The RUE.E is an intelligent profiled rail linear guide. Customers have the option of oil or grease lubrication, they can vary the position of the lubricating nipple and mount the unit themselves. In addition, INA is the only manufacturer to supply the carriage with the "full complement" system or with the "roller chain." The main advantage of the "roller chain" is its quiet operation. The RUE.E and the ball type profiled rail units KUVE..B both belong to INA's and FAG's new premium product class. The brand name "X-life" is used to designate industrial products that have a verifiable added value for the customer, such as longer life, functionality, improved materials and performance. Besides these products, INA-Schaeffler KG will exhibit its bearings for pretensioned ballscrews, whose load carrying capacity has been doubled since the last IMTS show. The increased load rating in the three row angular contact thrust ball bearings belonging to the "heavy series" DKLFA offer customers considerably higher operational reliability and longer life for their machine tools. With the motto "FAG Low Temperature," FAG Aerospace/Superprecision, the technological leader for spindle bearings, will present a new spindle bearing generation at the IMTS show. For FAG low temperature bearings, bearing temperature in operation has been reduced by 10 ¡ãC. This is truly a milestone on the road to providing reliable control for speed values amounting to an n x dm of 2.5 million with grease lubricated bearings. In addition, for the first time FAG Aerospace/Superprecision will offer complete assemblies for the non-locating bearing position. Depending on requirements, these non-locating side solutions contain the complete displacement function with spring support right in the bearing outer ring and optional seals against leakage losses and collection channels for oil return. Another technical highlight is FAG's new and production-ready spindle monitoring system "SpiCoM". For the first time, a standardized system is available for the non-contact measurement of relative displacement between shaft and housing during operation. This measuring method is much more precise than previous methods, such as the measurement of structure-borne noise or the monitoring of spindle performance. L-A-T SUHL AG, a specialist for reluctance motors and AC synchronous motors, will exhibit its wide variety of linear drives and controls as well as the new torque motor series RSMNO with outer rotor design according to the "Nonius principle." Thanks to their special design, the motor has considerably higher torques than conventional inside rotor motors with the same design envelope. präTEC - Präzisionstechnik GmbH, a company that has been part of the INA Group since the beginning of August and whose booth will be located at A 14 in Hall 14 II, will present its expertise for rotary tables, linear motors and positioning systems. The main attraction will be the DT-3P-304x165. This rotary table will be presented for the first time at this year's IMTS show. The high-precision positioning unit with good synchronized-operation characteristics is suitable for medium to heavy masses. The latest rotary table by präTEC has high rigidity for precise runoff properties. The rotary positioning system is used in handling and positioning units. The rotary table is also suitable for laser cutting and laser welding applications. "All four companies stand for innovative solutions in this sector," said Helmut Bode to summarize the capabilities of INA, FAG, LAT and präTEC. "With the strong alliance between INA and FAG and the involvement of LAT and präTEC, we will maintain our market position and technological leadership for the long term," Helmut Bode continued. "The consolidated development expertise of both companies will enable us to offer products with still higher performance and additional benefits that provide the customer with a high degree of reliability and efficiency." With a total of 54,000 employees at over 180 locations around the globe and group of 7 billion euros (fiscal year 2003), the Schaeffler Group belongs to the world's leading suppliers of the rolling bearing and automotive supplier industries. The corporate group includes the INA Group with headquarters in Herzogenaurach, the FAG Group based in Schweinfurt as well as the LuK Group, with headquarters in B¨¹hl.