Sliding Engineering

PTFE Sliding Bearings For Building Construction, Bridge And Steel Construction

The extremely favorable friction constants of PTFE is put to use for building construction, bridge construction and ship building as well.

Concrete and steel bridges are today largely built using the so-called cyclic sliding process, i.e. sections of 20 to 50 meters in length are grouted or welded to one side and then the bridge is translated using hydraulic presses, until it has reached its final position upon completion.

Using a different process, the bridge is completed besides the roadway and then translated to its final position in a few hours using hydraulic presses.

Usually, translation is performed on a track made of stainless steel plates. Such translation processes are also possible on steel with corrosion protection coating.

Launching Bearings For Ship Building

For ship building, PTFE friction bearings may replace the launching technology using grease (even though many large shipyards are today using the floating dock technology).

But there are still many traditional launching paths which may be fitted with PTFE sliding technology. Also called Skid Way sliding tracks - mounted on carbon steel plates

Translation of a container ship, 42,000 to, length 202 m, on PTFE sliding elements
Moved along PTFE plates also known as SKID WAY assemblies.