Engineered fabric improves air bearings performance

Air bearings are pneumatic elements that can be positioned under heavy loads enabling them to be moved in any direction. They make little noise and are gentle on floors, due to their low friction and low surface pressure. They create a thin air film between the floor surface and the air bearing itself, virtually eliminating friction, so that heavy loads can be moved with very little force. 

In a bid to improve its air bearing performance, Solving turned to a long time coating partner, Trelleborg, for the latest in engineered fabric. Since late 2013, Trelleborg has been supplying Solving with engineered fabric for the air bearings located beneath its Solving ‘Mover’ transporter. Trelleborg Coated Systems general manager, Johan Frithiof takes up the story:

“Having looked into Solving’s manufacturing process and applications, we were able to assess their needs to create a tailor-made solution to fully match their requirements. This both improves the capacity of the air bearings and lowers the air consumption, resulting in our highest performance air bearing elastomer yet.”

Trelleborg’s advanced fabric helped Solving optimise performance and increase load capacity. In particular, the stronger fabric allows an increase in pressure, which, in turn, improves both air bearing and, ultimately, the handling system performance.

Trelleborg’s engineered fabrics are used by customers in sectors such as general industry, automotive, aerospace transportation and health & safety. These sturdy fabrics are coated with a chemical compound that makes them more resistant to tearing and high temperatures.

Trelleborg says it can customise an endless variety of options to suit almost any application in almost any industry. As Johan Frithiof says, through its thorough research and testing of a wide variety of weaves and coatings, the company has gained a deeper understanding of how different polymer compositions work and how they can best be used to meet individual specifications.

For more information about Trelleborg's engineered fabrics, click here.