... Self-aligning flanged needle bearings.

Nita, Inc. is a Quebec-based manufacturer of prepress machines and systems for lithographers, flexographers and newspaper publishers. On the company's SCI Series, Cyclone and Shifter conveyors transport printing plates 36-, 48- and 60-in. wide, then rotate them as much as 180 degrees before they are fed into a press. On Scorpio Inline punches, each plate exits at a 90-degree angle, with precision notches for hanging on a press. Plate Stackers can load up to 150 plates onto a carrier trolley without kinks or scratches, so they can be transported together instead of individually. Nita's equipment uses multiple flange bearings on shafts--critical for creating the smooth rolling movement needed at each end of the shaft as well as on each pulley that drives belts and O-ring pulleys throughout their machines. Moreover, as Claudio Napoleoni, company director of marketing & distribution, points out, "printers work 24/7, 365 days a year non-stop, so they can't afford to be constantly stopping and replacing parts."

In January 2000, as Nita prepared to introduce a new product line, customers began reporting that flange bearings were seizing alter only six to nine months of use. "Customers kept telling us that the bearings were eating the shafts," remarks Napoleoni. Correcting the situation meant replacing anywhere from 12 flange bearings on Nita's Scorpio Inline punch to more than 36 on its Shifter conveyor model. In addition, Nita's flange bearing supplier could not fill orders for replacement parts on time. "Delivery was a complete disaster," Napoleoni adds. "We would have to keep six months of stock in inventory fearing we would not be able to fill orders on time." Not only was Nita's reputation at stake, so was the company's next generation of products. "As every conveyor became faster and precision greater," says Napoleoni, "it was apparent that the time had come to look for another supplier that could not only meet our expectations, but grow along with us by stocking inventory on a three-month rolling forecast, ensuring that we never had a stock rupture."

Initially, Nita felt a flange bearing with special precision mounting blocks was the answer and began identifying potential suppliers. However, one of the first companies contacted recommended a simpler, less-costly solution--a self-aligning, ready-mount unit from their catalog that incorporated INA needle roller bearings, mounted in a steel flange. The [+ or -] 5-degree self-aligning feature of the bearing pivots in any direction, providing customers like Nita with such benefits as elimination of precision bearing mounting blocks; fast installation; smoother shaft operation requiring minimal start-up torque; the ability to use smaller motor drives; and easier OEM machine assembly. "The flange bearing's self-aligning feature adapts to variances in the shaft orientation," explains Napoleonic, "removing the need for a more expensive solution or special mounting blocks."

The Ready Mount Needle Roller Bearings came from Peachtree City, GA-based Spyraflo Inc., whose lines of patented self-clinching and self-aligning bearings serve a variety of OEM markets and applications, from postage meters and ATMs, to photocopiers and garden care machinery. "The Spyraflo self-aligning flange bearing design," remarks Napoleoni, "is about 30% faster to install than those requiring precision mounting blocks and it's very cost-competitive. In addition, in the years since we incorporated the Needle Roller Bearing and launched our new product line, we haven't had a single service call. As for inventory, Spyraflo is willing to keep parts in stock for us."

Circle 311--Spyraflo Inc., or connect directly at www.rsleads.com/ 501df-311