Despite the current downturn in economic conditions, Bearings International (BI) recently launched a new hybrid gasketing liquid from premium supplier Loctite. The new 518 pen-style gasketing liquid offers customers significant cost savings.

“This is most welcome in the current economic conditions,” BI product manager Andrew Altree comments.

Based on the latest economic statistics released at the end of the second quarter, mining shrunk by 10.8% year-on-year. This has also affected the seals and sealant sector, which declined by 3.2% during the same period compared with 2018, he outlines.

In addition to the decline in demand for sealing products, Altree highlights pricing as a challenge not only to BI, but to the entire market.

“Owing to the downturn in the economy, a lot of customers are scrutinising the prices of products in order to save on maintenance budgets. “Clients are looking at ways of cutting costs all the time,” Altree notes.

He points out that a solution to the problem would be to educate clients on the risks of using cheaper alternatives. Through marketing and promotions, social media and face-to-face customer interaction, BI continuously provides the necessary knowledge of its product features that benefit customers and ultimately save them money in the long run.

Meanwhile, in supplying sealing solutions to various industries and applications, the company’s future plans in the sealings industry include having a strong focus on and driving the performance of its extensive branch network, with digital point of sale promotions and stock replenishment.

This will include the marketing of sealing products, as well as selling the added value of the high-quality range of BI’s gaskets, sealing mechanisms and sealants.

“We are focused on developing and growing in the agriculture, mining, steel, earthmoving and manufacturing sectors,” Altree adds.

The new Loctite 518 pen, which uses 50% less than the normal Loctite 518 liquid gasketing, has been added to the Loctite hybrid range.

The Loctite HY4070, an ultrafast universal repair adhesive for a range of substrates, and the Loctite HY 4060 GY, a five-minute structural repair adhesive that is an ideal replacement for traditional two-part epoxies, also form part of the range.

An exciting new addition to the Rocol range is the Dykem Cross-Check, which provides the customer with a visual check to see if a critical bolt or stud has come loose.

Altree mentions that BI also offers oil seals, O-rings and hydraulic seals from normal to high temperature, as well as sealing components that can handle different types of environments and pressures.