reliable, competent & comprehensive
Quality control at Franke
Bearings are key components in numerous machines and systems – their reliability determines operational safety, service life, and maintenance costs.
Product testing ensures that bearings function as expected under real operating conditions (e.g., mechanical stress, vibrations, or temperature fluctuations), comply with relevant standards, and do not cause unexpected failures.
Targeted testing allows weak points to be identified at an early stage, material or design decisions to be verified, and service life forecasts and approvals for special applications to be derived on a sound basis.
Vibration and shock tests
We test the dynamic stress and robustness of your bearings using a powerful shaker test bench – from product development to final acceptance. This allows us to verify standard requirements, identify natural resonances, and realistically simulate shock and fatigue stresses.
Key technical data
- Usable frequency range: 5–3000 Hz
- Shock pulses: up to 100 g
- Maximum force that can be absorbed: up to 100 kN
- Component diameters that can be tested: bearings up to 900 mm
Customer benefits
- Detection of resonance frequencies to optimize design and bearing location
- Service life and fatigue tests to reduce the risk of failure in the field
Thermal testing
Our temperature chamber allows tests to be carried out to ensure the thermal stability and functional reliability of your bearings.
Key technical data
- Temperature range: −40 °C to +70 °C
- Fast cooling rates: up to 100 °C per 15 minutes (heating time approximately twice as long)
Customer benefits
- Validation of material and seal selection under real conditions (e.g., aviation, outdoor applications)
- Evaluation of temperature change cycles to estimate service life and performance losses
- Verification that specified torques and function are maintained even at extreme temperatures
Test benches with torque load
We test slewing ring and bearings under particularly demanding tilting and torque loads — not just purely axial or radial loads. This allows us to simulate worst-case scenarios and reliably verify changes in rotational resistance, limiting speed, heat generation, and service life.
Key technical data
- Tilting moment test bench for slewing rings up to 350 mm outer diameter: tilting moments up to 7 kNm
- Additional test bench for larger components up to 1200 mm outer diameter: testing under radial and/or axial loads possible
- Measurement of torque, friction behavior, temperature rise, and service life characteristics
Customer benefits
- Validation of design and material selection under real load conditions
- Early detection of wear or functional problems during tilting moments and load changes
- Verification of operational stability in demanding applications (e.g., Rotary table or swivel drives)
Analyses and evaluations
In addition to conducting the tests, we can also evaluate them directly at our premises. In doing so, we determine precise parameters such as wear, torque drop, or possible stiffness losses.
For specialized questions and in-depth material investigations, for example on fat aging or the introduction of foreign substances into fats, we work closely with accredited testing laboratories. This involvement of external experts ensures that even complex chemical or physical changes (e.g., fat wear) are validated according to the highest standards.
By combining internal expertise with a strong network of specialists, we offer you sound insights for the further development of your prototypes.
Your contact
If you have any questions about our quality standards and processes, please contact me directly.
