The Components Division of the Liebherr Group has produced the largest non-segmented large diameter bearing ever manufactured by Liebherr. The roller bearing slewing ring is intended for use in a compact bucket wheel excavator.



The Components Division of the Liebherr Group has produced the largest non-segmented large diameter bearing ever manufactured by Liebherr. The roller bearing slewing ring, with a diameter of 7.5 meters, is intended for use in a compact bucket wheel excavator, and weighs around 20 tonnes. Based on the available installation dimensions, the roller bearing was design-optimised in close cooperation with the customer, Sandvik Mining and Construction Materials Handling GmbH & Co KG. Thanks to the new raceway system it offers a longer service life and better emergency running characteristics.

For its production, a hardening machine in the Biberach plant was modified to enable Liebherr to produce large diameter bearings with a diameter of up to 8,000 mm in the future. In this way, the company once again demonstrates its competence and extensive experience in the manufacturing of large diameter bearings, which can be used not only in the fields of mining and material handling, but also in a broad variety of applications. “The short and rapid decision-making at Liebherr makes it possible to implement such projects within a short period of time,” says Oliver Friedrich, Sales Manager for Europe – Business Unit Large diameter bearings.

Site acceptance tests of the roller bearing took place in mid-June in the presence of the customer and mine operator at the Liebherr site in Biberach (Germany). The large diameter bearing was then delivered by special transportation to the brown coal open pit mine in Hungary, which supplies the Mátra power station.