Flowserve Corporation: Flowserve Improves Reliability of Variable Frequency Driven Motors with Latest in Bearing Gard Technology

Flowserve combines proven Bearing Gard reliability with latest in AEGIS® grounding ring technology to extend motor bearing life, while reducing bearing contamination and related wear and maintenance costs.

 

DALLAS, August 15, 2016 - Flowserve Corporation (NYSE:FLS), a leading provider of flow control products and services for the global infrastructure markets, today announced the release of new Bearing Gard bearing isolator upgrade technology. Enhanced with the latest in electrical grounding capabilities, this technology is designed to extend bearing life and reduce operating costs for motors driven by Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs).

 

In recent years, VFDs have grown in popularity because of their ability to deliver greater system efficiency, extend motor life and optimize operating costs. However, VFDs operate by delivering power to the motor in a series of positive and negative pulses, which often results in unbalanced voltage that can accumulate in the motor shaft until it can find a path to ground. 

 

Without proper grounding between the shaft and the motor housing, the bearings often become the path to ground. The resulting electrical discharge can drastically damage or even destroy the bearings in just a few months of service. Flowserve developed new Bearing Gard technology to directly address this challenge. With integrated electrical grounding protection in place, substantial elimination of shaft voltage is achieved, which helps to significantly extend bearing life.

 

The new Bearing Gard - with electrical grounding technology - dramatically increases electric motor reliability by guarding against the two main causes for premature motor failure: 1) bearing contamination and 2) damage due to electrical discharge. 

 

The Bearing Gard is uniquely capable of resisting contamination at the entry point with its patented triple combination of static shut-off, O-ring-protected rotor/stator interface, and oversized contamination channels. 

 

The newly added and industry-leading AEGIS® grounding ring technology is designed to provide protection against bearing damage due to electrical discharge and/or fluting. The AEGIS® grounding ring technology provides consistent and reliable current-diversion methods, discharging harmful shaft voltage to the ground instead of through the bearing. 

 

The new, highly engineered Bearing Gard is now available in one complete, easy-to-install package. Key features include:

• Innovative static-sealing technology, preventing contamination under shut-off conditions
• 360-degree grounding contact for improved protection
• Protection against bearing lubrication breakdown due to electrical discharge machining and contamination
• Static shut-off design to increase reliability by preventing O-ring binding while providing the largest standard axial movement available in the industry

Building on the continued success of the Flowserve Bearing Gard product line originally launched in 2014, the Flowserve Bearing Gard with electrical grounding is the latest addition to a family of bearing isolators and related services and upgrades for rotating equipment including pumps, motors, steam turbines, gearboxes, pillow blocks, and many more. 

 

Same-day shipping is available with many standard sizes to help customers minimize potential downtime and return equipment to production as quickly as possible. 

 

Flowserve also offers a large, global network of Quick Response Centers (QRCs) strategically located throughout the world to best serve our customers.

 

 

Flowserve Contacts

Investor Contacts: 

Jay Roueche, vice president, Investor Relations & Treasurer, [phone]

Mike Mullin, director, Investor Relations, [phone]

 

Media Contacts: 

Lars Rosene, vice president, Global Communications and Public Affairs, [phone]

Amy Allen, manager, Global Communications and Public Affairs, [phone]

 

About Flowserve: Flowserve Corp. is one of the world's leading providers of fluid motion and control products and services. Operating in more than 55 countries, the company produces engineered and industrial pumps, seals and valves as well as a range of related flow management services. More information about Flowserve can be obtained by visiting the company's Web site at www.flowserve.com.

 

Safe Harbor Statement: This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Words or phrases such as, "may," "should," "expects," "could," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "estimates," "believes," "forecasts," "predicts" or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which include, without limitation, earnings forecasts, statements relating to our business strategy and statements of expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies and anticipated developments concerning our industry, business, operations and financial performance and condition.

 

The forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on our current expectations, projections, estimates and assumptions. These statements are only predictions, not guarantees. Such forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from what is forecast in such forward-looking statements, and include, without limitation, the following: a portion of our bookings may not lead to completed sales, and our ability to convert bookings into revenues at acceptable profit margins; changes in global economic conditions and the potential for unexpected cancellations or delays of customer orders in our reported backlog; our dependence on our customers' ability to make required capital investment and maintenance expenditures; risks associated with cost overruns on fixed-fee projects and in taking customer orders for large complex custom engineered products; the substantial dependence of our sales on the success of the oil and gas, chemical, power generation and water management industries; the adverse impact of volatile raw materials prices on our products and operating margins; our ability to execute and realize the expected financial benefits from our strategic manufacturing optimization and realignment initiatives; economic, political and other risks associated with our international operations, including military actions or trade embargoes that could affect customer markets, particularly Middle Eastern markets and global oil and gas producers, and non-compliance with U.S. export/re-export control, foreign corrupt practice laws, economic sanctions and import laws and regulations; increased aging and slower collection of receivables, particularly in Latin America and other emerging markets; our exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, including in hyperinflationary countries such as Venezuela; our furnishing of products and services to nuclear power plant facilities and other critical processes; potential adverse consequences resulting from litigation to which we are a party, such as litigation involving asbestos-containing material claims; a foreign government investigation regarding our participation in the United Nations Oil-for-Food Program; expectations regarding acquisitions and the integration of acquired businesses; our ability to anticipate and manage cybersecurity risk, including the risk of potential business disruptions or financial losses; our relative geographical profitability and its impact on our utilization of deferred tax assets, including foreign tax credits; the potential adverse impact of an impairment in the carrying value of goodwill or other intangible assets; our dependence upon third-party suppliers whose failure to perform timely could adversely affect our business operations; the highly competitive nature of the markets in which we operate; environmental compliance costs and liabilities; potential work stoppages and other labor matters; our inability to protect our intellectual property in the U.S., as well as in foreign countries; obligations under our defined benefit pension plans; and other factors described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

All forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on information available to us on the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

 

# # #

---

This announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Flowserve Corporation via Globenewswire

HUG#2035359