(November 29, 2011)

Through the recent establishment of the four new SKF authorised distributors in Kwazulu Natal, Bearing Services Africa has acquired SKF's Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Mandini and Richards Bay branches. This is part of SKF's ongoing commitment to deliver complete product and service solutions to the customer's doorstep.

Discussing the objectives behind the distributor programme, SKF South Africa Managing Director, Barry Dailly, says that it is in line with the company's 2008 strategic decision to restructure its South African branches and establish an authorised SKF distributor network. "SKF has over 100 years experience in bearing and rotating technology, with a global vision to 'Equip the world with SKF knowledge'. We aim to provide customers with added value across the board by delivering SKF's core technologies - bearings and units, seals, lubrication systems, power transmission, mechatronics, and mechanical and reliability engineering services. However, because it is impossible for us to be everywhere, our authorised independent industrial distributors, who are an extension of our product and service delivery, give us the best route to market and enable us to place SKF appropriate resources and skills where they are required, in other words, equip our customers with SKF knowledge".

"SKF distributors definitely add value to the end user", agrees Bearing Services (Pty) Ltd Managing Director, Barry Everitt. "The combination of round-the-clock access to SKF's expert support and back up, and our expertise and knowledge of the local markets, enable us to offer end-to-end solutions. We realise that time is money for all businesses and, rather than trying to supply the entire country from one warehouse, we ensure that all our branches are well stocked to offer rapid delivery of the right product at the right time to the customer's doorstep.

The same can be said for service, maintenance and repairs; being closely located to the customer, it simply makes logistical and financial sense that this would be our responsibility".

Dailly assures customers that SKF will still be very much in evidence, even with Bearing Services taking over the four KZN branches. "We recognise the importance of maintaining close relationships with and remaining part of our customers' business processes in order to clearly understand their individual needs and to supply the best solutions. To ensure continuity, certain SKF personnel will remain at the Bearing Services branches and the engineering resources will still be based in Jacobs."

Bearing Services Africa (Pty) Ltd, Level 1 BEE accredited and the holding company of all the Bearing Services branches, is a total product and service solutions provider assisting customers to achieve trouble free operation, lower total cost of ownership and maximise return on investment by reduced machine failures, downtime and maintenance costs. "Everitt, with 40 years experience in the industry says, "Our aim is to grow our business profitably and we are always on the lookout for potential sales outlets to develop new branches and further expand our footprint. These four new branches are a natural extension of our geographical territories and they give us our first footprint in the KZN region. With a total complement of fourteen branches situated across Central and Eastern Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Kwazulu Natal, we can now supply seamlessly from Pretoria to Musina", says Everitt.

Everitt continues, "We can build on and strengthen what SKF has already achieved in KZN and I am confident that we can replicate our successes in Gauteng in KZN to the benefit of SKF, Bearing Services and, most importantly, our customers".

Everitt adds that the establishment of the KZN Bearing Services branches has now given Bearing Services the ability to secure national contracts along with the regional contracts they have from a number of major industry players.

Everitt believes that Bearing Services and SKF share a common vision and objectives when it comes to service excellence. "No matter how good the product, a bad service ethic will be the product's weakest link. It is our aim to meet customers' needs with round the clock service and on time deliveries and we will go out of our way to assist them in any way we can. SKF is going about it the right way by appointing authorised distributors to ensure best-in-class service where the customers are located".

Bearing Services' National Sales Director, Grant van Rooyen, says that by simply establishing an outlet does not automatically mean qualification as an authorised SKF distributor. "There must be common ground in terms of shared values and ethics. Our value sense and the way we serve customers are in complete alignment with SKF. We are totally committed to SKF's vision and strategy to sell value. We do not promote the sale of opposition brands but remain committed to a single brand. This brand loyalty policy means that the customer knows what he is getting at all times - quality and more quality - from both a product and service perspective".

All four KZN Bearing Services branches actively promote and sell all SKF core technologies across the region and Van Rooyen says that they are well prepared to serve the primary KZN industries including pulp and paper, sugar, cement, oil refineries, rail, food & beverage and mineral processing.

Turning his attention to training, van Rooyen explains that SKF's local and international product and sales training programmes, covering practical, theoretical as well as online, web based (Webex) training, works to the benefit of both Bearing Services personnel and our customers.

"SKF's Reliability Maintenance Institute (RMI) will continue to offer accredited practical and theoretical training out of our Bearing Services Durban and Middleburg branches while online courses are available through the distributor college.

Van Rooyen continues, "The KZN region has massive untapped opportunities and growth potential. However, in order to realise our aim of achieving growth over the short term and to maximise the potential, a lot of work needs to be done.

There are quite a few challenges in KZN; firstly we need to develop stronger customer relationships. Secondly, while SKF is well represented in the pulp and paper segments, there is a need to increase our presence in other markets that show substantial growth potential. We also have to develop new skills to gain entry into markets where we currently have not been very active. KZN has a very good base to work from and we can extend our comprehensive products and services range to existing customers, develop new customers and revisit potential customers."

"As an authorised SKF Distributor, Bearing Services enjoys the exclusivity of a world renowned brand in our designated areas. SKF offers, without any doubt, the best product range available in the industry and it is an honour to take a product of this quality to the market. Our customers are well informed and they realise that they will benefit from the added value of long term savings and rapid return on investment by purchasing superior quality and high service levels," concludes Everitt.

In closing, Robin Briggs, SKF Distributor Development Manager says, "The best way to safeguard product authenticity is to source SKF products through SKF authorised distributors. As our distributors only stock and sell quality SKF branded products, our customers can therefore buy with confidence from any authorised SKF distributor. Our distributor network enables us to supply the full SKF value offering to customers on time, every time, anywhere in the country.

The synergy of product quality, service excellence, ethics and quality shared by SKF and Bearing Services means that customers will benefit from the best that both companies have to offer. They can place their trust in SKF and the authorised distributor closest to them".

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