LTZC bearing Solves European Crane Slewing Bearing Measurement Dilemma

Why are there difficulties in measuring slewing bearings?

In the heavy machinery sector, cranes are the backbone of infrastructure construction, port operations, and industrial production. Slewing bearings (also known as slewing rings) are the "joints" of cranes, simultaneously bearing axial force, radial force, and overturning moment, directly determining the operational stability, safety, and service life of the crane. European customers, on the one hand, lack professional bearing measurement tools, and on the other hand, are unfamiliar with measurement methods. For European crane operators facing the dilemma of inaccurate slewing bearing measurements, LTZC, a professional bearing manufacturer with many years of experience in customized bearing research and development and on-site technical services, provides a one-stop on-site survey solution. On September 16, 2025, LTZC's professional engineering team successfully solved the customer's urgent problem through on-site surveying, parameter confirmation, drawing output, and on-site re-verification, fully demonstrating its professional capabilities as a reliable slewing bearing solution provider.

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The Critical Role of Slewing Bearings in Industrial Cranes

The client in this case is a well-known European crane operation and maintenance company, primarily engaged in the operation, maintenance, and upgrading of port and construction cranes. Their cranes are widely used in major European ports and construction sites, handling heavy lifting tasks such as container loading and unloading and the lifting of large structural components. The slewing bearing, as a core component connecting the upper structure and lower base of the crane and enabling 360-degree rotation of the boom, operates under high load and high frequency conditions year-round.

After prolonged operation, some of the client's cranes experienced abnormal vibration and noise during rotation, and their rotational flexibility significantly decreased. The client's maintenance team initially determined that the problem might be related to wear and changes in the fit dimensions of the slewing bearing. However, replacing or repairing the slewing bearing requires accurately obtaining key parameters such as the inner diameter, outer diameter, width, roller size, raceway curvature, and mounting hole positions of the slewing ring. These parameters are fundamental to customizing replacement bearings and ensuring a perfect match between the new bearing and the crane's original structure. Inaccurate parameters can lead to poor bearing-to-equipment fit, accelerated wear, and even serious safety accidents such as bearing fracture during operation.

 LTZC's Slewing Bearing Solution for Cranes

Upon receiving the client's request for assistance, LTZC immediately assembled a dedicated project team.  The team included professional engineers with over 10 years of experience in slewing bearing design, measurement, and field service, as well as technical experts familiar with European crane standards and technical requirements. The project team first conducted in-depth communication with the client via video conferencing and email to gain a comprehensive understanding of the equipment and slewing bearing information:

1. Basic information of the crane: Type (port container crane), service life (8 years), main technical parameters (maximum lifting capacity, rotation speed, etc.);

2. Existing problems with the slewing bearing: Abnormal vibration, increased noise, reduced rotational flexibility, and raceway wear;

3. Client's self-measurement situation: Tools used, measurement data, and existing questions;

4. On-site environment: Site layout, spatial dimensions, power supply situation, etc.;

5. Client's core needs: Accurate measurement of key parameters in the shortest possible time, provision of detailed measurement reports and drawings, and provision of a customized bearing solution.

Based on the client's needs and actual situation, the project team analyzed that the key to solving the problem lay in overcoming the limitations of traditional measurement methods and adopting professional high-precision measuring tools and scientific measurement methods to ensure the accuracy of parameters and the efficiency of measurement. Based on this, the project team customized an on-site survey solution for the client:

1. On-site survey by professional engineers: A team of two professional engineers was dispatched to the client's site in Europe, equipped with high-precision slewing bearing measuring equipment suitable for on-site use;

2. Multi-dimensional parameter measurement: A combination of contact and non-contact measurement methods was used to comprehensively measure key parameters of the slewing bearing, including inner diameter, outer diameter, width, raceway dimensions, roller dimensions, mounting hole positions, and gear parameters;

3. On-site re-measurement and verification: After completing the initial measurement and drawing, key parameters were re-measured to verify the accuracy of the data and ensure that the drawing parameters were completely consistent with the actual situation of the slewing ring bearing;

4. Subsequent technical support: Providing technical guidance for the client's subsequent bearing replacement and installation, and answering related technical questions.

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 Case Study Results: Collaborative Success, Demonstrating LTZC's Professional Expertise

Through LTZC's on-site measurement solutions, the client gained several direct benefits:

Firstly, measurement challenges were efficiently resolved. LTZC's engineering team completed the measurement, data processing, drawing output, and re-verification of the large crane's slewing bearing in just one day, significantly faster than the client's expectations, minimizing the impact on the crane's normal operation.

Secondly, measurement accuracy was guaranteed. The deviation of key parameters measured by LTZC was controlled at the micron level, fully meeting the requirements for customized slewing bearings. Based on the drawings provided by LTZC, the client successfully customized the matching slewing bearing. After installation, the abnormal vibration and noise of the crane disappeared, and the rotational flexibility returned to normal levels.

Thirdly, maintenance costs were reduced. The professional maintenance advice provided by LTZC helped the client reduce the wear rate of the slewing bearing, extending the service life of the crane and thus reducing long-term maintenance costs.

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Why choose LTZC Bearing Manufacturer?

Choosing LTZC Bearing Manufacturer is based on its over 20 years of professional experience, comprehensive product range covering all precision levels, strong non-standard customization capabilities, complete quality and service system, and high cost-effectiveness, making it suitable for heavy-duty and precision applications in multiple fields.

20+ years of bearing R&D experience: Established in 1992, a national high-tech enterprise, with a core technical team including professor-level senior engineers and senior engineers.  It has a provincial and municipal high-load bearing engineering technology research center and can independently complete bearing selection, design, manufacturing, and bearing repair, demonstrating solid technical expertise.

Comprehensive precision coverage and diverse bearing types: Product precision covers P0-P4 levels, including slewing bearings, non-standard precision bearings, precision thin-section bearings, and slewing drives ，gear ring, with outer diameters up to Φ10 meters, suitable for heavy-duty and precision applications in engineering machinery, ports, metallurgy, wind power, tunnel boring machines, excavators, cranes, and many other fields.

Strong non-standard customized bearing and import substitution capabilities:  Can develop non-standard bearings according to requirements, providing import bearing replacement solutions, addressing special working conditions, customization, and localization needs, helping to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

Strict quality control and authoritative certification: Bearing products are certified by the ISO9001 quality system and comply with multiple national and industry standards such as GB/T307 and JB/2300. Some products have obtained CCS and ABS classification society certifications, ensuring stable and reliable quality.

Efficient and responsive after-sales service: Implements a "three guarantees" policy, providing 24-hour telephone response to quality issues and on-site service by dedicated personnel within 48 hours. Regular visits to users ensure stable equipment operation.

High cost-effectiveness and cost advantages: Relying on a mature production system and source manufacturing factory, it provides competitive prices while ensuring high quality, reducing procurement costs and improving overall efficiency.