GGB tribological solutions move the industrial world one step closer to the future. Our products are used in tens of thousands of critical applications every day—around the planet. Our goal is to provide reliable, maintenance-free surface solutions for almost any application—no matter where those demands take our products.
GGB's diverse polymer coating solutions encompass some of the most state-of-the-art coating technologies available. Our TriboShield® product line includes seven standard formulations that cover the full spectrum of mechanical, thermal and chemical capabilities offered by today's coating materials. They can also be applied to nearly any surface, regardless of shape or material, making their potential almost endless. And when it comes to working with and enhancing the performance of your existing bearing and polymer coatings solutions, our TriboMate product line is specifically designed to be paired up— all leading to enhanced performance.
The excellent low friction and high wear resistance performance of GGB metal-polymer bearings make them ideal for hundreds of applications in numerous and diverse industries. Depending upon application requirements, metal-polymer composite bearings can be produced in many shapes and sizes.
GGB's Engineered Plastic Polymer bearings provide excellent wear resistance and low friction in both dry and lubricated operating conditions over a wide range of applications. Engineered plastic bearings are made from thermoplastic bearing material processed by injection moulding. This production method enables us to produce unlimited dimensions in accordance to our standard, and also parts with special designs and features.
GGB's Fiber Reinforced Composite products typically consists of a filament-wound, fiberglass-impregnated, epoxy backing with a variety of low-friction wear-resistant bearing linings. These self-lubricating fiber reinforced composite bearings are particularly effective in applications where the relative motion is not sufficient to promote circulation of the oil or grease used with more conventional bearings. GGB Fiber Reinforced Composite bearings are available as bushes, plates, bearing segments and special forms, depending on the particular material type.
Bimetal and metal bearings offer excellent corrosion resistance in industrial outdoor applications and in water, marine and offshore environments. GGB offers a broad range of sizes, forms and materials in monometallic and bimetallic bearings.
Engineered as a solution to conquer misalignment reduction when high demands are placed on bearings, GGB's UNI, MINI and EXALIGN® self-aligning shaft bearing assemblies offer improved equipment performance under standard bearing assemblies by reducing stress and friction. Offering superior performance in a wide variety of applications, GGB's self-aligning assemblies are available in both standard and custom configurations.
GGB has been putting the world in motion for over 120 years with industry-leading tribological bearings, coatings and assemblies. From Polymer Coatings and Metal-Polymer bearings to Fiber Reinforced Composite bearings and self-aligning shaft bearing assemblies, our solutions are specifically designed to reduce friction and optimize performance and durability.
Tribology is the science of wear, friction and lubrication, and encompasses how interacting surfaces and other tribo-elements behave in relative motion in natural and artificial systems. This includes bearing design and lubrication.
GGB’s TriboU is intended to provide the working engineer, who may or may not be a user of GGB’s surface engineered solutions, to understand and implement basic tribological concepts in the design, manufacture and use of industrial equipment.
At GGB, we aren’t afraid to take risks for our customers. We are passionate about the work we do and believe that same passion contributes to the level of innovation that can enhance human potential. We take pride in working closely with customers in the early stage of a design to think broadly and boldly, and to expand beyond traditional surface engineered solutions. We offer reliable partnerships based on trust, compassion, determination, collaboration and respect.
GGB seeks out collaborative, long-term relationships with each one of our customers. Our diverse expertise gives us a deep understanding of the challenges you face. When you partner with us early, our GGB engineering team is able to review your assemblies and make sure both the bearing and surrounding components are optimized for performance and cost-effectiveness.
GGB has been providing knowledge and solutions to the hydropower industry for more than 100 years.
Over the past 20 years, fiber reinforced composite bearings have proven themselves to be the successor to greased bronze bearings in hydropower applications. GGB’s HPMB®, HPM, and HPF® fiber reinforced composite self-lubricating bearings have been specifically designed to meet the demands for low wear, high performance bearings in the hydropower industry.
GGB’s expert team of application engineers works closely with hydropower industry customers to determine the right solutions for their hydropower applications. In one instance, GGB was approached by Dongfang Electric early in the design process of their pump storage facility located in JiXi, Anhui province, China. The facility required a tight tolerance hydropower bearing with a machinable liner that could provide dimensional flexibility to adjust for a yet to be determined offset.
An extensive machining study was performed to investigate which fiber matrix would provide the best machining response without compromising on tribological performance. Ultimately, it was determined that HPMB® high precision fiber reinforced composite bearings were ideal for this application due to their machinable inner and outer diameters, dimensional flexibility, and their excellent corrosion resistance. Additionally, HPMB® bearings exhibit excellent dimensional stability due to their negligible water adsorption, further contributing to its tight dimensional control.
HPMB® self-lubricating composite bearings have been widely adopted by the hydropower industry since their approval by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for use in hydropower turbine wicket gates in 2015. For applications that do not require the tight tolerance control that post-installation machining of HPMB® provides, GGB offers other Fiber Reinforced Composite Products such as HPM and HPF®.
HPM Hydro Bearings and HPF® filament wound segments are used in the turbine wicket gates, as well as the servomotors and linkages, of the four turbines in China’s Xiangjiaba Hydropower Plant. At the time its first generator was commissioned in 2012, the 800 MW turbines used by the plant were the most powerful in the world. The wicket gates in these turbines are responsible for controlling the flow of water that enters the turbine, ultimately impacting the power output of the turbine.
Given this vital role, the wicket gates required high performance bearings with both a high load capacity and a low coefficient of friction. HPM and HPF® Hydropower Bearings were ideal for this application, featuring a maximum dynamic load capacity of 20,000 psi/140 MPa and low coefficients of friction even under high pressures. Practically, these properties result in less force being required to adjust the position of the wicket gates during operation. This contributes to reduced wear, allowing for reliable operation to continue for more than 20 years.
GGB self-lubricating bronze bearings are also used in the hydropower industry. One example is GGB-DB® cast bronze pintle bearings that are used in the miter gates of the Panama Canal’s lock system. These gates are responsible for the water elevation change in the canal, allowing for the passage of ships. The USACE requires the miter bearings to have a 25 year service life, abrasion resistance, underwater operability, and ease of assembly and operation – all of which are criteria met by GGB-DB® high performance bearings. Unlike traditional greased bronze bearings, GGB-DB® bearings are self-lubricating with solid lubricant inserts. These inserts provide continuous lubrication across the entirety of the sliding surface. Additionally, these zero pollution bearings eliminate the possibility of water contamination by removing the need for toxic lubrication.
GGB hydropower bearings have proven their superior performance in hydropower plants across the globe from the Americas to Asia. Additionally, GGB’s worldwide team of experienced sales and application engineers are available to provide technical support to determine the right hydropower bearing solution for your application, regardless of where you are located.
Learn more about GGB hydro bearings solutions designed for the energy market.
Our experts are ready to help you find the right solution for your specific application.