50,000 bushings for intensive care

To this end, the St. Leon-Rot-based company has in recent days converted a complete production line for the required components. After a short time, the supplier was thus in a position to produce lead-free special bushings made of metal-polymer composite, such as those currently used in medical equipment for intensive care units. KS Gleitlager has already produced an initial batch of 50,000 bushes for a long-standing customer.

The latter is Magnet-Schultz GmbH, a specialist in electromagnetic actuators, sensors and valve technology. Based in Memmingen, Germany, this traditional-rich family-owned company produces, among other things, flow control and solenoid valves for devices used in intensive care medicine and has recently increased its production volume in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

"In view of the expected further spread of the pandemic and the urgently needed medical equipment, it is only natural for us to make a contribution in our special field of competence to enable the necessary rapid expansion of medical care," says Achim Weber, head of the business unit of Rheinmetall Automotive. "That is why in this case we did not hesitate for a moment to convert our special equipment for the industrial sector to these urgently needed products at short notice".

The company normally supplies international automobile manufacturers in its main business, but in its special area for industrial customers from the mechanical engineering sector, as in this case, it is able to manufacture specific products very flexibly and quickly, even in small batches.

Core competence fast delivery time

KS Gleitlager GmbH is part of Rheinmetall Automotive AG, a global automotive supplier mainly producing high-volume series for the automotive industry. Within the company, the Industrial Bearings Competence Center is responsible for rush orders. The unit specializes in industrial customers and their needs. Its core competencies include the production of relatively small quantities of tailor-made plain bearings and exceptionally fast delivery times. The importance of a fast and flexible supply chain is particularly evident against the background of the Covid-19 pandemic.