Kadant Johnson Introduces High-Speed Precision Unions

Kadant Johnson Inc., a subsidiary of Kadant Inc., has launched its latest high-speed precision rotary union line for through-the-spindle coolant applications in the machine tool industry. The Type G precision unions can be used with coolant, air, and hydraulic oil and are used on transfer lines, gun drills, and spindle applications at speeds exceeding 50,000 RPM.

According to Rudi Leerentveld, president of Kadant Johnson, "The market’s demand for a high-speed rotary union product line that incorporates the latest mechanical seal technology drove our initiative to launch the Type G line. The competitive options offered to the market were not meeting key OEM and end user expectations, and this created an opportunity for Kadant Johnson to fill the performance gap.”

The Type G line includes a full range of precision unions used in engine and transmission plants, CNC machines, clutches, spindles, and other coolant applications. The heart of the rotary union is its mechanical seal, and the Type G union is the first to offer laser etching to the seal face. This advanced manufacturing process makes distinctive laser-etched patterns on the seal face, resulting in reduced seal friction and the ability to increase rotational speed without sacrificing seal life.

Kadant Johnson’s full line of Type G rotary unions is available worldwide and marketed in the Americas through Kadant Johnson’s operations in the US, Canada, and Brazil. In Europe and Asia, the Type G rotary unions are marketed by Johnson-Fluiten, a joint venture of Kadant Johnson.

Kadant Johnson Inc., based in Three Rivers, Michigan, is a leading provider of rotary joints, precision unions, and fluid handling systems to process industries, where they optimize heat transfer in rotating cylinders and integrate fluid handling systems.

Kadant Inc. (NYSE:KAI) is a leading supplier to the global pulp and paper industry, with a range of products and services for improving efficiency and quality in pulp and paper production, including paper machine accessories, and systems for stock preparation, fluid handling, and water management. Our fluid-handling products are also used to optimize production in the steel, rubber, plastics, food, and textile industries. In addition, we produce granules from papermaking byproducts for agricultural and lawn and garden applications. Kadant is based in Acton, Massachusetts, and, with the addition of Kadant Johnson in May 2005, has annual revenues of approximately $270 million and approximately 1,500 employees worldwide. For more information, visit www.kadant.com.