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Infrastructure

The Trillion Dollar Infrastructure Plan Driving Heavy Equipment Demand

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Surveys from renowned sources like the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation show that a large percentage of executives believe the economy will improve over the next few months. And about 48.4% of respondents are looking forward to a tangible increase in profits in their respective niches.

The North American market is responding to expectations for a more business-friendly climate. Coupled with a significant slowdown of some prominent Asian engines that have been monopolizing the global landscape and putting pressure on businesses in the United States, the “fair” economy is inching towards a “strong” rating.

The Trillion Dollar Trump Plan

The President has budgeted $1 trillion for highways, waterways, airports, waterlines and bridges. He is also expected to allocate funds for affordable housing and construction of public health provision centers. In short, the infrastructure of the nation is set for positive growth thanks to a surge in planned infrastructure investment.

According to the U.S Treasury department, infrastructure and public work projects valued at 330 billion dollars can provide up to a trillion in economic benefits. It goes without saying that the proposed trillion dollar plan should likewise provide a substantial return.

What Happens When You Invest in Infrastructure?

The construction and development projects can create more opportunities for STEM graduates and workers in heavy equipment. Companies that work with steel, cement production, and construction also stand to benefit from increased infrastructure investment.

Bunting Bearings LLC is excited about the prospects 2017 holds. We have been supplying superior quality machined parts, bearings and metal structural products that assist the heavy equipment and construction sectors.

If you are gearing up for a spate of new orders and are on the lookout for reliable vendors and distributors, you can connect with Bunting Bearings at 888.286.8464.

Energy

How the Weather Influences Natural Gas Prices

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Across all industries, there are seasons that are good for business, and others that tend to see a slump.  For natural gas, pricing depends greatly on demand – and the demand varies depending on the weather. But unlike most industries that benefit from either warm or cold temperatures, natural gas actually benefits from both.

As we look back on this past summer, it was pretty hot overall. Air conditioners have been running full-blast for the past three months, and in many households are still running even as we round the corner into fall. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 33% of U.S. electricity was produced thanks to natural gas this year. And since this was such a hot season with heat waves around the nation, the strong demand for air conditioning was a boon for natural gas prices.

Similarly, this coming winter will likely see the same strong demand, if not stronger in some locations. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac’s winter predictions, the Northeastern U.S., Southern British Columbia, and Upper Midwest will be colder than normal with the potential for more snowfall than average. This means that people will likely be huddled up in their homes with the heat turned up. And if emergency situations require more supply than expected, the price of natural gas will climb higher as suppliers struggle to meet demand under harsh conditions.

And in addition to regular seasonal price fluctuations, severe weather such as hurricanes and tropical storms can impact production, which in turn impacts prices. But weather patterns such as El Nino can have an even greater impact by altering the weather itself. During El Nino years, the U.S. can expect milder winters and summers, which means less demand for natural gas, and therefore lower prices.

Obviously there are a number of factors that influence the prices of commodities, but with natural gas, the weather is indisputably a driving force.

Agriculture

New Technology and Trends Reshaping Agriculture

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When thinking about life on a farm, many people might automatically think of a big red barn full of cows and horses. Today, however, the picture is quickly changing. The modern, successful farmer is highly-connected, utilizing the latest in crop, animal, and equipment management technology to create efficient, effective operations. So what are some of these new trends and technologies being used?

  • Smartphones – Not just a way to make or take a phone call, they can help farmers keep track of their nutrients, manage tasks, and monitor equipment. Best of all, they allow the farmer to access these features from anywhere on their farm, or even out on the road. They are becoming as invaluable to agriculture as a shovel.
  • Big Data – It’s a great catchphrase, but it is also very important to agriculture in that it can bring together data from around the world, or just on the local level, for analysis and action. This helps to eliminate trial and error, and provide better, more predictable results for operations of all sizes.
  • Precision – From drones that can survey crops, to sensors, to robotics, precision agriculture is becoming more and more prevalent. Utilizing these tools to decide the application of inputs as well as the amount and location of inputs helps create sustainable, successful agriculture.
  • Agriculture as Everyday Life – In what has been a surprising turn, agriculture has rebounded to become an increasing part of everyday life, and something that is at the forefront of the minds of the consumer. Consumers care about where and how their food is produced, desire local products, require transparency and information, and are aware of the need for environmental responsibility and conservation in agriculture. This trend towards the consumer caring more than before will continue to snowball.
  • Agritourism – Not only do consumers care, they want to get involved. This means homestays at farms, bed and breakfasts, farm breweries, hands-on attractions, and so much more. It is a sector that continues to increase as time passes, and offers potential for increased revenues.

Bronze bearingsClearly, the agricultural sector is undergoing a major shift in perception and processes. As new technologies continue to be launched, it will be interesting to see how farmers will incorporate new emerging trends.

News

Bunting Bearings Launches New, Updated Website

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Bunting Bearings has decided to update our online presence in an effort to make things easier for our valued customers and website visitors. The new website was designed to be responsive, so that no matter what type of device people are using, they’ll be able to browse and maintain full functionality. Since many industrial buyers are now using mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones to view products and conduct research, it was important for us to create a website that works well no matter which device is being used.

In addition to being responsive, the new Bunting Bearings website makes it easy to search for products by making our online catalog front and center, and incorporating a PDF version of our catalog. We’ve also made it simple to find relevant SDS sheets as well as our ISO certificate to assure the quality of our products. A PV Data Chart further helps prospective customers learn what types of materials and products will work best for their applications depending on their necessary requirements.

For customers that are looking for local bearing suppliers, we’ve also listed our preferred distributors on the website. We understand that our customers are located throughout the country and the world, so having a bearing distributor close by can be reassuring, especially in an emergency.

Furthermore, our website now features an Interchange Search. For customers who already know the part number they’re looking for, they can enter it into the search bar in the upper right corner of the webpage to quickly find what they need. The tool is especially useful for repeat customers.

We’re pleased with our new web presence, and encourage users to visit the site and let us know what you think. We look forward to hearing from our fans and followers on Twitter.

Green Materials

Improving Sustainability and Safety in the Industrial Supply Chain

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Though Earth Day is now over, many companies are still tasked with the job of finding more environmentally friendly materials and processes. It’s a difficult and time consuming objective, but one that is well worth the effort. One way to lessen your environmental footprint is by choosing “green” products to incorporate into the supply chain.  Our eco-friendly alloy C87850 ECO Bronze is RoHS compliant and meets the lead-free safe drinking water act. The main difference between our ECO BRONZE and other lead-free alternatives is that ECO BRONZE is a great bearing material.

Lead Free Bearing

Eco Bronze Bearing

Other options often compromise their bearing properties in an effort to become lead-free, but ECO BRONZE has proven to be equal, and in some cases superior to, the leaded bearing materials it has replaced.

In addition to environmental concerns, the safety of products coming into contact with drinking water is of great importance. Given the recent epidemic of lead contamination in drinking water throughout the United States, it’s important to find alternative lead-free materials for use in these types of applications.

ECO BRONZE may be the most tested lead-free bronze material to-date; Bunting Bearings and Chase Brass had this material arduously tested by various independent laboratories in the USA, and all came to the same conclusion: “it’s tough,” “non-galling,” “does not get brittle at high temperatures,” “superior impact and compressive strength” and “a great bearing material.”

By incorporating ECO BRONZE into your manufacturing supply chain, your business can more easily reach sustainability goals. Being environmentally responsible is a goal that Bunting Bearomgs, Chase Brass and most of our customers share. By specifying a green product such as ECO BRONZE in lieu of a traditional leaded material you have taken a significant step forward. Furthermore, by leading your company with the procurement change your employees can take note and find additional ways for your business to decrease its environmental footprint. Selecting eco-friendly bronze products is just the start – how else does your facility plan to increase sustainability this year?

Bearings

Why Tribology Matters When Calculating Bearing Performance

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First, What is Tribology?

Tribology is the study of friction and wear on surfaces and materials that are in motion. Bearings are the perfect example of products that would require some background in tribology, since they are constantly rubbing against other items in their everyday function.

Bunting Bearings has always been at the forefront of bearing calculations including PV wear and friction data, and when we required independent verification on how effective a bearing material our new lead free ECO Bronze material was, we turned to the leading US tribology expert, Dr. Robert Adams.

Dr. Adams’ doctoral research was focused on characterizing plane bearing materials’ PV friction and wear performance profiles. Dr. Adams applied his knowledge to develop a tribometer that reduced the time needed to obtain reliable PV wear and friction test results. Dr. Adams’s company, Tribis Engineering Inc., is now finalizing all the PV data that will show that ECO Bronze is the first real cost competitive material to current leaded and lead free bronze bearing materials.

Bearing Tribology

Tribo-Spectrometry

Bunting will be releasing tribological data on many of our bronze compounds in the near future.

There is not a single “best” bearing material and surface combination. Understanding how the various materials compare under these changing conditions makes it possible to select the “best” bearing material and surface combination for a particular application.

Tribo-spectrometry helps us to understand the particular friction and wear behavior of differing materials, and make the right choices for current needs.

 

Permanent Mold Casting

Advantages of Permanent Mold Castings and Products

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The production process of permanent mold castings and products is one we take very seriously at Bunting Bearings. Our quality engineered cast materials and bearings are made with the highest standards so that your components will work to their best abilities. Here are the top advantages of our permanent mold castings and products:

Permanent Mold Castings

Permanent Mold Castings

  • Smooth Filling of Molds – To reduce risks of defects caused by inclusions and turbulence, which would compromise the product you receive, we use a grating design for reliably smooth mold fillings.
  • Superior Physical Attributes – Exceptional mechanical properties. Dominant casting strength is achieved by using the permanent mold casting process rather than the sand casting process.
  • Excellent Surface Finishes – As-cast products have top-quality finishes and dense surface structure, which makes them easier to polish.
  • Closer Net Shaped Profiles – Intricate shapes and designs can be cast by our expert team, as per your specifications, using the permanent mold process.
  • Precise, Consistent Control – Our electric melting furnaces produce consistent metal heats while our permanent mold dies have precise dimension control, and our CNC machines work with unmatched precision.
  • Weight Reduction – As compared to the sand castings, the permanent mold castings are more lightweight due to both the materials used and the slimmer sections (as thin as 0.09”) held within them.
  • Tight Pressure – Get superior pressure tightness and soundness by using our high-quality permanent mold casting process for your order.
  • Few Defects or Part Variation – It is crucial that you get uniform parts for your projects, so we use metal dies that minimize part variation to as little at only +/-0.002”. Metal dies vary significantly less than sand-casting, which lowers part-to-part variability significantly.
  • Tiny Cast Holes – Small holes (as tiny as 0.187”) can be cast into parts, with very close tolerances. This ability often eliminates the need for any secondary drilling and gets your finished part completed quickly.
  • Eco-friendly – Bunting recycles grates and scrap through our furnaces to reduce our company’s carbon footprint. We believe in taking responsibility to minimize our impact on the environment and therefore support green practices.

There is a range of benefits when ordering permanent mold castings and products from Bunting Bearings. Our team of certified professionals look forward to producing high-quality, intricate castings and products to meet your needs and wants. Contact us to request a quote today.

Centrifugal Casting

Understanding Centrifugal Casting and Its Advantages

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What is Centrifugal Casting?

Centrifugal casting is in effect “liquid forging.” Molten bronze is forced against the mold wall under moderately high pressure. Centrifugal force causes “an object moving in a curve to be pushed away from the curve’s center.” This force, combined with the rapid cooling effect of the cold mold induces directional solidification across the casting wall under a forced feeding condition.

What Are the Benefits of Centrifugal Casting?

Centrifugal Castings

Sample Centrifugal Casting Product

The combination of centrifugal force and rapid cooling improves the density of the cast metal and increases the actual mechanical properties, while providing a uniform metallurgical structure. Therefore, products will have improved strength, durability, and performance.

What Materials Are Used?

Bunting Bearings is a U.S. supplier of centrifugal castings and manufactures a wide range of sizes in Leaded Tin Bronzes, Aluminum Bronzes, Manganese Bronzes and No Lead Bronzes. Centrifugal castings are generally sold in the semi-finished condition to ensure the customer receives a high quality casting with minimal machining required to meet the finished dimensions.

The Bunting Bearings Difference

Bunting Bearings is a premier bearing and bar manufacturer that has perfected the production process. Our lead time is virtually unmatched, and is typically 1 to 2 weeks, however it can even be as little as 48 hours.

Centrifugal casting is one of the ways that Bunting supplements our continuous cast offerings to our customers. Continuous casting still represents a tremendous value product with high quality combined with minimal clean up stock allowance. However when smaller quantities, larger sizes and non-standard alloys are what is required the cost effective solution is a Bunting centrifugal casting.

Energy

New Regulations for Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling Proposed

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The year 2015 marks the fifth anniversary of the infamous BP oil spill that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico. The spill impacted miles of U.S. shoreline and is estimated to have cost BP $42.4 billion so far. Also known as the Deepwater Horizon spill, it’s estimated that 4 million barrels of oil were spilled into the Gulf during this event.

To prevent future disasters, the Obama Administration is trying to get more laws passed to improve safety measures in the offshore oil industry. The proposed laws would strengthen safety on devices known as blowout preventers, which function as a last line of defense to stop underwater explosions on gas and oil wells. The BP oil spill happened as a result of a malfunctioning blowout preventer after a section of piping buckled. Previously, the part was thought to be fail-safe.

Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling

Offshore Oil Drilling Rig

To date, the new regulations will be the third largest as a result of the BP disaster, and carry an estimated cost of hundreds of millions of dollars for oil companies. Due to the projected cost and time necessary to implement these new regulations, companies will be given several years to make the required changes. Once the new rules are in place, it will provide minimum requirements which will include changes in design, repair, maintenance, and manufacturing of blowout preventers.

As a bearing and cast material manufacturer that serves customers in the oil industry, Bunting Bearings is constantly on the look-out for news that may impact our customers. We will continue to monitor the headlines and stay up-to-date on changing regulations in the oil and gas industry.

For more information, please feel free to contact us by calling 1- 888-286-8464 or via email at bunting@buntingbearings.com.

Bearings, Green Materials

Sustainability through Alternative Energy and Green Materials

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British Petroleum and Royal Dutch Shell have declared that by 2050, most of the world’s energy needs will be met using alternative or clean energy. Renewable sources like natural gas, wind power and geothermal hot spots are valued for their clean properties.

Wind turbines

Wind energy continues to gain popularity

Wind energy is fast growing in popularity and thanks to recent developments has experienced a surge in production volume, accompanied by a dip in the cost of set-up and expansion. And geothermal energy harvested from the heat of the Earth’s core is ever abundant and produces steam which in turn can drive turbine based devices to generate electricity.

Sustainable energy providers work to supply cities and operational activities like manufacturing with adequate clean power. To further accelerate the process of going green, vendors can use responsibly sourced or ‘sustainable’ materials to update infrastructure. This may include lead free bearings or items like reclaimed wood to replace traditional provisioning.

Bunting Bearings is a premiere name in the niche of environmentally friendly bearing solutions and supplies sustainable energy providers, marine, medical and other commercial markets with high quality components. Our eco-friendly alloys like the C87850 ECO Bronze, C95400 Aluminium- Bronze, C89835 Bismuth bronze are RoHS compliant and meet the lead-free safe drinking water act and are manufactured for use in heavy machinery and on rugged terrains.

By incorporating these materials into your manufacturing supply chain, your business can more easily reach sustainability goals. And by greening processes at the procurement level, employees can take note and find additional ways for the company to decrease its environmental footprint. Selecting eco-friendly industrial products is just the start – how else does your facility plan to increase sustainability this year? Let us know on Twitter.