Vertical grinder blows wind of change through turbine industry

The establishment of Zhejiang Tianma Bearing Group Co., Ltd. in 1987 coincided with the ‘golden age’ in which the Chinese precision bearing industry was rapidly developing. With its persistent pursuit of technological innovation and strict control over product quality, Tianma Bearing has quickly risen to become an essential player in the global bearing industry.

Tianma Bearing is the only precision bearing manufacturer in the world with its own steel plant. It controls the entire industrial value chain, from raw materials to finished products, and has successfully established its own brand, TMB bearings. The products are utilised in wind energy generation, rail transport, and vehicles powered by new energies.

In the wind power industry, Tianma Bearing has performed exceptionally well. As a leading company in the domestic market for precision bearings for wind turbines, Tianma Bearing also commands a significant share of the global market, particularly for azimuth and pitch bearings. Furthermore, Tianma Bearing has continuously enhanced its strengths in the wind energy sector and aims for success in other domains. In 2023, Tianma Bearing's acquisition of the Starrag Berthiez RVU 2300/220 vertical grinding machine marked a crucial step toward entering the production of main shaft bearings for wind turbines.

Tianma Bearing enhances machining capabilities with Starrag.

"The first collaboration between Tianma Bearing and Starrag took place in 2020, when we purchased a vertical grinding centre with additional turning function with a maximum machining diameter of 4.7m from Starrag for our plant in Chengdu. After the equipment was put into use, its operation far exceeded our expectations. Not only has it significantly increased machining efficiency, but it also guarantees outstanding product quality for us," reports Mu Bin, Assistant to the Chairman and Technical Director of Zhejiang Tianma Bearing Co., Ltd.

This successful cooperation established a solid foundation of trust between the two parties. Therefore, when Tianma Bearing planned to enhance its research and production capabilities for wind turbine main shaft bearings, it did not hesitate to select Starrag.

The main shaft bearings are among the most important components of wind turbines. They face extremely high demands regarding precision and reliability. Therefore, efficient machining equipment is essential. As a global leader, Starrag's performance with its machines is undisputed. Starrag's vertical grinding machine plays a crucial role, not only in production but also in the research and development of wind turbine main shaft bearings.

Machining time reduced from three to four days to four to five hours.

Since the Berthiez RVU vertical grinding machine from Starrag has been in operation, it has proven itself in practice. Its outstanding, stable performance has impressed the technical team at Tianma Bearing, who are full of praise. Mu Bin explains: "The wind turbine bearings place extremely high demands on reliability and service life. This is particularly true for the main shaft bearings. The vertical grinding machine from Starrag is characterised by high reliability and guaranteed machining quality, high precision, and great flexibility. It has proven its worth in machining new product samples and complex parts."

Starrag's Berthiez RVU vertical grinding machine features an extremely rigid machine bed and an advanced control system that ensures precision and stability during machining. It also offers a high degree of automation. The thoughtfully designed turret and tool-changing system enhance the efficiency and convenience of machining complex parts. At the same time, the machine is highly adaptable and satisfies all requirements for machining workpieces of various sizes and shapes.

In practical use at Tianma Bearing, the Berthiez RVU has solved many machining problems where traditional machines failed. The machining time for a sample has been reduced from the original three to four days to the current four to five hours. The machining efficiency has been dramatically improved, and the research and development cycle has been significantly shortened.

The Starrag machine guarantees high final quality for Tianma Bearing. At the same time, the intangible value brought by Starrag's equipment also benefits Tianma Bearing. "Starrag's equipment is like an assurance pill. Not only are we completely relaxed when we use them, but we also have the certainty that the product quality is right. The machine has allayed many customers' concerns about using locally produced products and has strengthened their confidence in Tianma Bearing," said Ma Xingfa, Chairman of Zhejiang Tianma Bearing Group Co., Ltd.

According to Ma Xingfa, Starrag's machine is easy on the nerves by alleviating customers' concerns and serves as a driving force for further innovation. To meet the high standards of the wind energy industry, Tianma Bearing continually enhances its machining capabilities. The acquisition of the Starrag machine has not only elevated standards in a specific process step but also created a positive dynamic that has optimised and improved all production steps.

From installation and commissioning to after-sales service, the professionalism and rigorous attitude of Starrag's staff have left a deep impression on Tianma Bearing. Mu Bin recalls: "During installation and commissioning, two French engineers travelled thousands of kilometres to Tianma Bearing to supervise the work on site. The machine was assembled to a perfect quality within the planned time. The professional technology and rigorous attitude of the staff deeply touched us."

The cooperation between Tianma Bearing and Starrag represents a powerful alliance of two leading companies in the industry. By introducing Starrag's Berthiez RVU vertical grinding machine, Tianma Bearing has not only improved its technical capabilities and product quality but has also injected fresh momentum into the industry to foster the production of precision bearings locally in China.

When discussing future cooperation, Ma Xingfa did not hesitate to say: "As the ultimate guarantee for the product quality of Tianma Bearing, Starrag makes us feel very at ease. When purchasing new equipment in the future, we will still prioritise Starrag."

Liu Xin, General Manager of Starrag China, said: "Tianma Bearing is an outstanding company that attaches great importance to product innovation, efficiency improvement, and cost management. I am very pleased to be able to use Starrag's equipment, knowledge, and experience to help Tianma Bearing achieve high quality and efficient production. At the same time, we look forward to further cooperation between the two parties to jointly drive forward the innovation and development of high-quality bearing production technology!"