Inpro/Seal Company the world’s largest producer of industrial bearing isolators reports sales for calendar year 2008 were 14% ahead of last year and the best in their 31 year history.  The results come at a time when other companies are faced with economic turmoil that have forced them to cutback personnel, reduce expansion plans and lower expectations.  Based on advance orders, projections, outstanding quotations and product development, they are on track for a 20% increase in 2009, headed for another record year.

In his quest to find a permanent means to protect bearings while enhancing and extending the service life of rotating equipment, David C. Orlowski developed the worlds first bearing isolator. Patented in 1977 (#4,022,479), the same year he founded Inpro/Seal, the company has over 3,000,000 units in operation around the world.  Today, Inpro/Seal Company manufactures approximately 50,000 bearing isolators per month and anticipates shortly that production will increase to 100,000 units.

A non-contacting labyrinth seal, the bearing isolator, for the first time, gave process plants the choice of permanent bearing protection and eliminated the need for continual maintenance.  Comprised of a unitized rotor and stator that do not contact each other, it does not consume energy and never wears out and can be used over and over for many years. Protected bearings have proven to run 150,000 hours (17 years) or more, eliminating the need for costly maintenance and repair. It’s closest competitor, the contact seal carries an unpredictable service life with a 100% failure rate.

Though a number of aspects are involved, the firm attributes their astonishing success to key factors that include:  a significant increase in their Air Mizer™ series product seals; ongoing research and development; continued heavy investments that continue to payoff; increased acceptance and brand preference; same day shipping; the fastest possible response to customer needs; on-line visibility; and importantly, the right products at the right time.

According to Orlowski, “When I developed the first bearing isolator back in 1977 it was new and innovative, and it still is.  Though we have received over 40 related patents, most are modifications or enhancements to the original, as the basic product remains the same. Before the bearing isolator was invented, end users had to contend with sealing methods that did not adequately protect bearings.  Contact seals, fibrous packing, flingers, lip seals, simple labyrinth seals and other devices simply did not eliminate the root cause of the equipment failure -- contamination entering the bearing environment and the loss of lubricant – and went on to fail. With today’s commitment toward lean manufacturing, contact seals are no longer in favor with the process industries.”

Also contributing heavily to their record setting year is the success of the IEEE Motors.  First introduced by the Institute of Electrical Engineers as the IEEE-841 Motor, it was designed to improve reliability, efficiency and performance by establishing simple guidelines and setting specifications.  As part of its specification, all IEEE-841 motors incorporate Inpro/Seal™ bearing isolators as standard equipment.   The newer NEMA Premium motor, which has at least a one point energy edge, has become readily available with Inpro/Seal bearing isolators as a standard option.

Inpro/Seal Company is the originator and the world’s number one manufacturer of bearing isolators, used to protect motor and pump bearings, machine tool spindles, turbines, fans, gear boxes, paper machine rolls and many other types of rotating equipment.  Additional applications include the sealing, handling, processing, packing and storage of dry particulates, powders and bulk solids.

For more information on Inpro/Seal Bearing Isolators, including “Introduction To Bearing Isolators”,  “Are Lip Seals Obsolete?” “Cost Justification Worksheet” a performance based free bearing isolator program or the name of the nearest trained distributor contact:  Jason Putnam at:  Inpro/Seal Company, P.O. Box 3940, Rock Island, Illinois 61204.  Phone numbers are: (800) 447-0524 or (309) 787-4971.  Fax number is: (309) 787-6114. Website: www.inpro-seal.com or www.bearingisolators.com.