In conjunction with the Institute for the Research and Development of Sports Equipment (FES), Schaeffler is developing new materials for runners and blades, and custom-fit chassis bearings, which were also used during the Olympic Winter Games.
Technology and speed
Speed is the most important factor when athletes are traveling on snow and ice in the winter. In many disciplines, the low friction coefficient between the sports equipment and the surface enables speeds that are not reached by athletes in summer. A ski gliding over snow usually has only a tenth of the friction between a car tyre and the road. In the case of ice skating, the film of water between the blade and the ice reduces the sliding friction to a minimum. Sometimes, only hundredths of a second decide between victory and defeat. This is the reason why not only the strength, endurance and skill of the athletes are important in winter sport, high-performance sports equipment is also essential.
Read the full article in the August issue of DPA