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Rear-quarter view of a large multi-deck luxury sports fishing catamaran yacht moored at a marina berth.

About PDL

Pacific Driveline and Henley Engineering Overview

Following is an over view on what both Pacific Driveline and Henleys Propellers do. – as well as Thordon bearings of course.
 
In a nutshell Pacific Driveline (PDL) handles Twin Disc gearboxes and controls, while Henleys handles everything aft of the gearbox to back past the propeller to the rudder. Both Companies supply Thordon bearings and manufacture and repair, props, pump impellers and stirrers.

Indoor view of a heavy machinery engineering workshop featuring multi-point drivetrain sub-assemblies and service tools organized on the floor.
A workshop service technician wearing red overalls conducting maintenance or adjustments on a large mechanical drivetrain or pump module.

Gearbox on a test-bed at PDL

Henleys-from the half coupling back

At Henley's we design and build 

Props, p- brackets, rudders, tiller arms, rudder ports, shaft seals, half couplings, shafts and shaft housings. We look after a range of sizes:

Hydro-Turbine

We also supply bearings to the Hydro Turbine Industry:

Exterior wide shot of a massive concrete hydroelectric power station dam and spillway facility, highlighting heavy industrial water-lubricated turbine bearing applications.

Hydro Powe Station

Close-up of a large circular multi-bolt industrial flange ring fitted with heavy-duty fasteners on a mechanical workshop assembly stand.

Tuai G1 ThorPlas wicket gate bearin

A systematic batch array of machined industrial flange components, with each bolt opening lined with blue grease-free Thordon composite polymer bushes.

Lake Coleridge ThorPlas  Wicket Gat

A supervisor or client representative standing in a workshop next to a massive blue-painted industrial pump casing or water-lubricated turbine component.

Thordon SXL Main Guide Bearings for

Other ThorPlas

bearing Applications

A heavy yellow tracked excavator operating at an outdoor forestry or land-clearing job site, illustrating rugged industrial machinery applications.

Forestry – Handling & Transportation

End User: Timrick Slashers (Canada)


Application: Slasher Grapple Bearing – Forestry


Installation Date: March 2005


Note: Robotec Grapple (OEM) - Can pick up tree length at lengths up to 60’. Replaced bronze bearing.

Heavy forestry excavator crane or tracked log loader operating outdoors at a timber yard, demonstrating high-stress industrial pivot point applications.

Scrap Metal & Recovery

End User: Berman Brothers, FL. USA.

Application: Grapple Bearing -Scrap Metal, Recycling

Installation Date: December 2003

Note:  Nylon bearings lasting only 2.5 weeks. ThorPlas bearings lasted 5 months before unit was sent for repairs (no issues with bearings).

Close-up engineering view of a heavy machinery articulation link or pivot arm housing retrofitted with a grease-free blue Thordon polymer sleeve bearing.

Mining – Truck Stabilizer

End User: Mining Facility Peru

Application: Steady Axle 100 Ton truck 

Installation Date: March 2005

Note: 
 

  • Initial bearings were bronze, lasting 2500 hrs. Replaced it with Nylon that lasted 7000 hrs. Currently, ThorPlas CONTINUES to operate without issues (>13,000 hours)
     

  • Grease lubricated but can not guaranteed continuously.
     

  • Large bearing sizes 348 mm (313.7”) x 327.5 mm (12.9”) x 101.6mm (4”)

Workshop shot of a heavy steel conveyor roller, cable sheave pulley, or undercarriage guide wheel assembly mounted on an industrial support chassis.

Forrestry – Kiln Drying

Application: Sawmill carrying container- wheel bearings. Pulp & paper industry (Chile)

Installation Date: January 2006

Note: 
 

  • Bronze bearings lasting only 2 months. ThorPlas bearings inspected after 5 months. Minimal wear found – expected service life of 10 months based on wear.
     

  • Hot temperatures & humidity in excess of 176°F (80°C) for short periods. 
     

  • Pressure >13.7 MPa (2000 psi).
     

  • Anti-rotation pin placed on top of the bearing caused cracks yet bearings continued to operate without any issue.

Using Thordon SXL flat top bearings in this application as pictured below will do the following:

You will eliminate grease lines and the need to regularly grease.

Extend out the life of the bearings. 

Because the bearing issplit, it will offer easy maintenance as the gear box and motor will not have to be taken off the shaft to replace the bearing. 

Splashing of the water by the aerator will lubricate the bearing.

Oxidation Pond Aerators

The self aligning bearings on the aerator below only lasts 18 months before they are rusted out and need replacing. They also need grease lines and regular greasing.

Rodney District Council had XL bearings in an aerator at Warkworth and I understand they went for 10 years plus

High-angle aerial view of a large commercial roll-on/roll-off passenger vehicle ferry cruising at speed, showing a prominent white wake.
Studio product view of a precision-machined circular metal flange with a three-spoke spider bracket housing a central non-metallic sleeve bearing guide.
Looking down into an active concrete water treatment tank, mixing chamber, or municipal flume with internal metal plumbing rails.
SXL used in pump at Fonterra Wharero
Screw Conveyor bearings

Flo Mo Meat Pump at Graeme Lowe Offal Plant

SXL used in a Flo Mo Meat Pump to replace needle roller bearings.

SXL makes it easier to dismantle the meat pump for cleaning and also stands up to CIP cleaning practices.

Typical Thordon Applications

An outdoor concrete circular water fountain or utility basin fitted with a vertical stainless steel aeration nozzle assembly.
Wide outdoor view of a municipal park landscape or utility reserve boundary with a grassy field lined by trees under a soft cloudy sky.

Thordon SXL and XL used in oxidation pond aerators

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