SKF Celebrates the First 100 Years of Excellence and is Geared for the Next 100

SKF, renowned for expertise in bearing technology since 1907, has maintained a global leadership position through the decades. This century of experience, technological know-how and dedication to detail, have given SKF a competitive edge and the company has evolved significantly, with its offering focused on total solutions for rotating equipment.

"Our vision is ‘To equip the world with SKF knowledge', says SKF South Africa Managing Director, Gavin Garland. "Experience and knowledge only come with time and, with a century of technological leadership, we aim to leverage product capabilities and application knowledge to provide unparalleled value to industry over the next 100 years. Our President and CEO, Tom Johnstone, joined our local celebrations when we hosted a well-attended and most enjoyable open day for customers on 12th November 2007".

"SKF knowledge and capabilities are supported by five broad product technology platforms i.e. bearings and units, seals, lubrication solutions, mechatronics and services", continues Garland. "The bearings and units platform, also incorporating power transmission, forms the core of SKF's business, while growth in the other four platforms through a number of strategic acquisitions, has given SKF the lead in the lubrication solutions, asset management, seals and mechatronics fields, placing us way ahead of other bearing manufacturers. The company is well placed to provide integrated solutions to improve asset reliability by combining unique bearing technologies and lubrication systems capabilities with a range of asset management services."

Through 10 000 distributors world- wide, SKF is widely acknowledged as the world's premier manufacturer of bearings as well as the best-engineered solutions partner. The SKF Reliability Systems Division links customer requirements and SKF Knowledge Engineering solutions, giving customers access to a suite of service products and specialised asset management tools, designed to meet daily operational and strategic requirements. While no single supplier claims to know all the answers, 100 years of expertise and continuous drawing of information from the other five products platforms and from across industry, impart valuable lessons. "Lessons learned are lessons shared," says Garland and quotes a good example of knowledge sharing where the solution for a hot application in the paper and pulp industry is also suitable for application in wafer ovens in the food industry.

The company's range of superior quality bearings and accessories for a diverse range of industry includes the recently launched CARB (Compact Aligning Roller Bearing) and Explorer Spherical Roller bearing, with performance benefits unmatched in industry. SKF's CARB bearing combines the advantages of three bearing types but with none of their disadvantages while the SKF Explorer Spherical Roller bearing sets new industry standards for performance and reliability.

"We remain committed to continue developing products that are part of the solution of the global energy crisis", remarks Garland and says that a new range of energy efficient bearings, offering 30% less friction will be in production by the end of 2007.

Correct lubrication prolongs equipment life and the answer to effective lubrication lies in SKF's Lubrication Division that designs, installs and maintains tailor-made lubrication systems on all fixed industrial and mobile (off and on-road) plant. SKF is the only company that offers the complete lubrication spectrum to maximize equipment life with world-class oil and grease lubrication solutions. SKF acquired two world leading lubrication systems manufacturers to strengthen its product range and to add to the company's lubrication management competence.

SKF's acquisition of a number of world-leading seal manufacturers strengthened the company's product range and added to its rotating equipment and competence. Fifteen factories across the globe are currently producing seals in accordance with SKF's stringent quality standards and packaging displays the distinctive SKF mono-brand.

SKF have further complimented its existing Power Transmission portfolio by adding a complete range of SKF branded Power Transmission products. The branded range is in the process of being introduced to Southern African markets and with 33 000 line items and R50m invested in stock availability through a single supply channel, SKF is poised to make a significant impact on local Power Transmission market.

Mechatronics, the science of controlled motion, is not very well known locally but also in this field SKF leads the way with numerous manufacturing units for ball and roller screws, precision and profile rail guides and linear actuation systems. Primary areas of application are in medical, industrial, and manufacturing technology, automation and robot engineering. Magnetic bearings, fly-by-wire and drive-by-wire technologies are also part of this Platform. SKF is the exclusive authorised distributor for the THK linear motion product range.

"Another proud moment in an illustrious history was the establishment of SKF South Africa's Level 4 BBBEE company, SKEFKO, in September 2006", says Garland. "SKF maintains a 70% shareholding while twelve black SKEFKO employees, four of whom are directors, hold the balance."

Sharing SKF's philosophy on social out reach, Garland says: "We have not only maintained, developed and grown our position as a world leading knowledge engineering solutions provider over the last century, but we have also lived up to our legendary reputation of caring for our employees, the community we serve as well as the environment. I believe that business cannot succeed in a society that fails and our corporate sustainability is driven by our ‘We Care' programme, covering four important elements - business, environmental, employee and community care".

In order to provide further value to our customers, we have invested R4.5 million in a local Johannesburg-based bearing remanufacturing facility. The facility is purpose-designed for the refurbishment of large bearings, which will greatly assist our customers in alleviating availability issues", concludes Garland.

Other News:
Delphi To Sell Wheel Bearings Unit For Up To $44.2 Million
SKF Celebrates the First 100 Years of Excellence and is Geared for the Next 100
Russia Will Hit Chinese Bearings With Dumping Duties
Profile Rail Guides Promote Precise Linear Positioning
Conveyor Lubricant is Designed for Variety of Containers
Bearings Provide Smooth Motion for Delicate Jobs
Bearings Help Refineries Restart Production Fast
Inpro/Seal Expands Shaft Sealing Product Line For Powder And Bulk Applications