CJB Bearing Makes Automotive Bearings Run Quieter

Changjiang Bearing(CJB Bearing) Makes Automotive Bearings "Quieter"

Persistence in Innovation Pays Off

Late at night, in the laboratory of Changjiang Bearing Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Changjiang Bearing"), the instruments still emitted a faint hum. Xu Jinguo, Deputy Chief Engineer of Changjiang Bearing, stared intently at the high-speed rotating test bearing, his ear almost pressed against the soundproof enclosure—this was the 23rd extreme test recently.

When the numbers on the display finally settled, the entire team erupted in cheers, "We did it! This is even lower than the 45-decibel quietness standard of the new energy vehicle industry!"

This is the reward for the company's persistence in technological innovation. In 2016, when new energy vehicles were just beginning to emerge, Changjiang Bearing's technical team discovered a pain point: in the quiet electric cockpit, the noise of traditional bearings became unusually noticeable. "In the past, our products performed excellently in fuel vehicles, but in new energy vehicles, they became a 'noise source'," Xu Jinguo recalled.

"We must make the bearings 'quieter'," said Shou Peigen, Chief Engineer of Changjiang Bearing. The innovative research and development targeting "quietness" was a clear technical path, yet fraught with difficulties. The team is advancing in three directions: innovatively modifying the raceway structure to optimize its fit with the bearing and suppress noise generation at the source; implementing micron-level precision control over the processing technology of key components such as the cage to ensure microscopic smoothness and balance; and establishing a near-stringent cleanliness standard system in the assembly process to eliminate vibrations caused by any tiny impurities.

Greater challenges followed. When the noise target dropped from 51 decibels to below 40 decibels, traditional detection equipment and methods failed, unable to accurately capture and analyze such low-level vibration and acoustic signals.

"It's like trying to measure the diameter of a hair with an ordinary ruler." To address this, Changjiang Bearing introduced a world-class vibration and noise analysis system and employed advanced algorithms such as Fourier transform to deeply process the data, establishing a system capable of accurately "diagnosing" and "treating" ultra-low noise.

It's not just about focusing on "quietness." Facing the stringent requirements of new energy vehicles for bearings—lightweight design, high speed, and long lifespan—Changjiang Bearing actively sought to seize technological advantages.

New energy vehicles have high requirements for energy consumption control, with driving range being one of the core indicators. Changjiang Bearing's engineers focused their attention on the rotational friction torque of the bearings. “For every 0.1 Nm reduction in frictional torque, the vehicle's range can increase by approximately 4 kilometers,” explained Shou Peigen. After numerous formula adjustments and structural optimizations, the team significantly reduced the torque of a key bearing from the industry-standard 1.5 Nm to below 0.8 Nm. This means that the improvement in this single bearing alone could potentially increase the range of a single vehicle by nearly 30 kilometers. Combining various friction-reduction technologies, Changjiang Bearing's products have contributed over 5% to the overall range improvement of new energy vehicles.

Changjiang Bearing also employs a novel structural design and a unique topology optimization structure, reducing the weight of the wheel hub bearing unit by 30% compared to the industry average, contributing to weight reduction and efficiency improvement in the entire vehicle.

Through proactive technological innovation, Changjiang Bearing has gained market recognition. In 2024, its orders for new energy vehicle bearings surged by 40% year-on-year.

Chen Yu, Party Secretary and Chairman of Changjiang Bearing, stated that since 2017, Changjiang Bearing has allocated over 4% of its annual sales revenue, exceeding 30 million yuan, to research and development. Currently, six major R&D platforms have been established, and a high-level postdoctoral research station has been set up, with a total of 120 patent authorizations obtained.