Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon, a manufacturer of hydroelectric turbines, engine cooling pumps and industrial pumps, took advantage of a NSK special training course on bearings, a two-half day sessions tailored on specific requirement by the OEM delivered to 14 engineers. Gilkes is a NSK customer since the 1980’s, and its products use an array of NSK deep groove ball bearings, cylindrical roller bearings and double row angular contact bearings.
In order to increase its bearing knowledge, Gilkes took the training opportunity, a kind of program usually delivered by NSK to aftermarket customers, showing how useful it is to provide the same benefits to OEM, offering a real opportunity to update their existing knowledge and practical skills. The course included sessions on bearing types and characteristics, different bearing sealing arrangements, internal clearances, lubrication, bearing failure modes and additional topics, also including an informal practical element by building a bearing unit against the clock, and boosted by tailored requirements, covering answers to 10 questions attendees asked. Gilkes is now considering a level II course, for a further 10 engineers, to cover bearing technology in more detail, featuring topics such as calculation training.