ROTHEERDE Bearings

Company Background

Rothe Erde is one of the world's leading manufacturers of slewing bearings, with a history spanning more than 160 years. Since 1992, the company has been part of the international thyssenkrupp Group, operating today as thyssenkrupp rothe erde, with 14 production plants across 10 countries and roughly 6,000 employees worldwide who process about 15,000 tons of steel each month to meet customer-specific requirements. Interestingly, Rothe Erde is part of the same thyssenkrupp rothe erde group as ROTEK (Rotek Incorporated is thyssenkrupp rothe erde's North American subsidiary), so the two brands share common engineering standards and manufacturing heritage.

Product Range

In addition to slewing bearings, thyssenkrupp rothe erde also manufactures seamless rolled rings and slew drives under the rothe erde® brand, while conventional rolling bearings are produced under its psl® brand. On the sizing side, Rothe Erde manufactures non-segmented slewing bearings up to roughly 9,600 mm in diameter, and segmented slewing bearings up to 25,000 mm in diameter for extreme heavy-duty applications, alongside seamless rolled rings up to 8,000 mm in diameter.

Applications

Rothe Erde slewing bearings are used across a very broad set of industries — renewable energy (notably wind turbine main and blade bearings), construction and infrastructure, mechanical and plant engineering, transportation and conveyor technology, mining, tunneling, offshore and marine applications, and even space exploration equipment.

Engineering & Quality

Rothe Erde emphasizes long-term reliability in extreme environments, with final inspection of finished products carried out by an internal certified quality assurance department, often in conjunction with the customer or a third-party inspector. The company has also developed predictive condition-monitoring technology to help operators (particularly wind turbine manufacturers) maintain slewing bearings in hard-to-access installations.

Based on your catalog screenshot, Lily Bearing currently lists six ROTHEERDE product categories:

• Four Point Contact Ball Slewing Ring Bearing – Single-row ball bearings in flanged and non-flanged designs, with internal gear, external gear, or no-gear options.
• Eight Point Contact Ball Slewing Ring Bearing – Double-row ball bearings for higher load/moment capacity, with internal gear, external gear, or no-gear options.
• Cross Roller Slewing Ring Bearing – Single-row roller bearings using crossed cylindrical rollers, with internal gear, external gear, or no-gear options.
• Three-Row Cross Roller Slewing Ring Bearing – Heavy-duty three-row roller design for maximum load, moment, and stiffness capacity.
• Developed for Use in Transport Vehicles – Single-row ball bearings without gear structure, for vehicle-mounted rotating platforms.
• Combination Slewing Rings – Single row ball plus roller combination structure, with external gear, offering blended load-carrying performance.

What Is The Difference Between Rothe Erde and ROTEK Bearings?

They belong to the same corporate family — Rotek Incorporated is thyssenkrupp rothe erde's North American subsidiary. Rothe Erde is the parent brand headquartered in Germany with global production, while Rotek historically served the North American market before formally adopting the "thyssenkrupp rothe erde USA" name.

What Size Range Does Rothe Erde Manufacture?

Non-segmented slewing bearings up to about 9,600 mm in diameter, and segmented bearings up to 25,000 mm for extremely large applications such as heavy mining or tunneling equipment.

What Industries Rely On Rothe Erde Bearings?

Wind energy, construction cranes, excavators, ship and harbor cranes, rail vehicles, tunneling machinery, offshore platforms, telescopes, and even aerospace applications.

What's The Difference Between Ball and Roller (Cross-Roller) Slewing Rings?

Ball slewing rings distribute load across ball-shaped rolling elements and are generally more economical for moderate loads; cross roller designs use cylindrical rollers set at 90° to each other, offering higher rigidity and load capacity in a more compact footprint — better suited for heavy-duty or high-precision applications.

What Is a "Combination Slewing Ring"?

It combines a row of balls with a row of rollers in a single bearing structure, allowing it to handle a blended combination of loading conditions more efficiently than a single rolling-element type alone.

Does Rothe Erde Offer Gear or Gearless Options?

Yes — most product lines are available with internal gear, external gear, or no gear at all, depending on how the bearing needs to interface with the drive system.

How Is Quality Assured On Rothe Erde Slewing Bearings?

Final inspection is performed by an internal, certified quality assurance department, and functionality and geometry are checked in detail — often together with the customer or an independent third-party inspector.

Does Rothe Erde Offer Condition Monitoring For Installed Bearings?

Yes, the company has developed predictive condition-monitoring technology aimed particularly at wind turbine operators, helping detect maintenance needs before failure in hard-to-access installations.