Schaeffler Wind turbines: solutions for every bearing position

The Schaeffler Group’s Wind Power Business Unit's range comprises more than  rolling bearing solutions. 

The range also covers the entire process chain, from bearing development and prototyping through to volume production. 

As well as bearing development and application engineering, Schaeffler also provides highly qualified, specialist external sales engineers who can provide comprehensive advice to customers, on site if necessary. Schaeffler’s manufacturing plants for wind energy bearings are close to customers too, with bearing plants located in Germany, Romania, China, India and North America.

Schaeffler is the only manufacturer worldwide with solutions for every bearing position on a wind turbine: rotor shaft, gearbox and generator, as well as for wind tracking and blade adjustment.

Rolling bearings for wind turbine rotor shafts are subjected to high dynamic loads and operating conditions. Schaeffler develops rotor bearings for the latest wind turbine variants, from 220kW up to multi-Megawatt class turbines. These different turbine concepts range from the conventional, 3-point shaft bearing arrangement and hub bearing supports, through to 2-point shaft bearings or single bearing concepts.

Bearing housing designs are calculated using Schaeffler’s bearing design and calculation software, BEARINX, and FEA analysis software, which together ensure optimal support of forces and moments.