Solving Guide Roll Bearing Failures in High-Temp Steel Mill Operations

A major steel mill specializing in rolled products made entirely from recycled materials was facing a recurring issue: premature bearing failures in their guide roll assemblies. These assemblies are designed to keep hot metal bars centered on the conveyor line. When bars glance off the guide rolls, the rolls need to rotate freely and that's where the problem began.

Originally, the mill used grease-lubricated roller bearings, but with operating temperatures ranging from 170–180°C (338–356°F), the grease was consistently baking out, leading to seized bearings and frequent maintenance interruptions. In certain applications, minimal grease use was required, which only worsened the issue.

The mill's plant engineer consulted with Graphite Metallizing Corporation's engineering team to explore a more durable, high-temperature solution. Together, they selected a GRAPHALLOY^® bronze-grade bushing, housed in stainless steel. Unlike conventional bearings, GRAPHALLOY bushings are self-lubricating and perform reliably in extreme temperatures, up to 400°C (750°F), with no need for grease.

Four of these bushings were installed in the guide roll assembly. After six months in service, the plant manager reported:

"The Graphalloy bushings are performing very well."

The Result

Based on this success, the team has decided to replace all roller bearings in these assemblies with GRAPHALLOY components. The upgrade has already reduced maintenance time and costs, and promises even greater savings moving forward.

DS2090-426

Click here to learn more about GRAPHALLOY in high-temperature environments.