The Jost Ballrace Series
The JOST KLK series of double-row ballrace slew rings are designed to handle the extra loads and stresses inherent with PBS-approved combinations.
The founders of Sloanebuilt Trailers, Fred and Helen Marano, have developed their family owned and run business from humble beginnings in the 1980s to the impressive operation it is today. The company remains owned and operated by Fred and Helen along with their four children Tim, Freddy, Daniel and Kate. Tim is Production Manager in the workshop and Kate is the Administration Manager. Sloanebuilt Trailers is located in Smeaton Grange, on Sydney's southwestern rim, in a brand new $52 million production facility set on nine acres in one of Australia's fastest growing industrial estates. The modern factory is fully equipped with drive-through bays, a state-of-the-art heated spray booth, mixing room, wash bay and grit blasting facility. This has enabled the company to further build on its solid reputation for manufacturing custom built trailers renowned for their strength, reliability, longevity and high-quality finish. In addition to serving its core customers in the tipper market, Sloanebuilt Trailers is also developing some new and innovative transport solutions, including an upcoming all-aluminium flat-top trailer.
"We have around 100 people working in the business and we design and manufacture as much as we possibly can in-house to ensure the end product meets standards and exceeds expectations," says Bennett Haberbusch, Business Development Manager at Sloanebuilt Trailers. "Where we need to purchase components from external suppliers, we look to partner with fellow industry-leading companies, and that's where JOST comes in."
Bennett maintains that one of the hardest working components in a truck and trailer combination is the ballrace, especially in the forms of a slew ring ballrace integral with a dog trailer or a fifth wheel dolly used to connect A-double combinations, for example. Particularly with tippers where off-road work is common, the units must be exceptionally well sealed and greased to prevent the ingress of grit and moisture which over time can cause accelerated wear to the balls and races.
"With the proliferation of PBS (Performance-Based Standards) combinations allowing ever higher weights to be carried, the ballrace is subjected to tremendous forces day-in, day-out," Bennett says. "Over the years we've established that to meet our high standards in terms of durability and reliability only the JOST range of ballraces suits our applications."
The JOST KLK series of double-row ballrace slew rings has a number of features which make it ideal in harsh and dusty environments such as quarries, including the labyrinth seal and the upper and lower rows of ball bearings that ensure vertical and horizontal forces are evenly distributed throughout the entire component. Thanks to the functional design, the axial loads are ideally supported and the thrust and tractive forces which occur when driving are transmitted in an optimal fashion. Horizontal forces in the pull or push directions, as well as the moment load resulting from braking and centrifugal forces, are supported by the interplay of the two rows of balls. Lifting forces are taken care of by the smaller ring of balls. A particularly large grease reservoir results from the free space between the tracks, ensuring smooth running and optimum lubrication capacity.
The units have eight equally spaced lubrication points enabling the best possible distribution of grease within the tracks with minimal rotation (+/- 20°) required during lubrication. Optionally available is a pre-assembled lubrication block which provides convenient access to all lubrication points in the one central location. This can be also specified In preparation for connection to an automatic lubrication system. With a 0-value rating of 275kN, the KLK Series of ballrace slew rings can be optionally fastened using splined bolts which obviates the need for additional welding of thrust plates. When required, Sloanebuilt Trailers utilises the JOST mobile fifth wheel installation and certification service to streamline the delivery process to its end users. "The JOST service and support network is outstanding, and we have always been well taken care of by locally-based Area Managers Joey Coles and John Dreves, both of whom are only ever a phone call away," Bennett says.
In addition to the JOST slew rings, fifth wheels and landing legs, Bennet says the company has recognised a growing trend with customers specifying the newly released JOST EverShine aluminium wheels on their new Sloanebuilt trailers, further strengthening the bonds between the two companies. "We are more than happy to use the full range of JOST products across our trailer builds as we know the quality is always up to our high standards and the aftersales support is fantastic," Bennett concludes.
https://www.trailermag.com.au/staying-on-the-ball/
