(Gothenburg, 21 December 2011)

SKF today announced it has signed a five-year contract with Luleå University of Technology (LTU) to establish an SKF University Technology Centre focused on developing advanced concepts in condition monitoring and asset management.

"Luleå University of Technology is at the forefront of research in a number of areas that are of interest to SKF," says Dr. Alan Begg, SKF Senior Vice President Group Technology and Development. "Our customers are concerned with reducing downtime costs and our work with Luleå will enhance our ability to provide them with advanced condition monitoring services."

The initial contract with the Department of Mechanical Engineering of LTU is for five people over a period of five years for the development of critical technologies, which enable SKF's vision. This program builds on SKF's position as a supplier of condition monitoring systems and the long collaboration between SKF and LTU on both condition monitoring and tribology topics.

"We are excited about this opportunity to make our centre in Lulea a focal point for collaborative activities involving SKF industrial customers, SKF as well as LTU," says Johan Sterte, Vice Chancellor Luleå University of Technology. "In addition to advanced research activities, another objective of this collaboration is to extend activities from the theoretical area to practical implementation."

An exciting feature of the program is the development of a multidisciplinary approach, involving professors and students in four areas:

Tribology: With particular focus on monitoring and controlling surface contact conditions in service.

Sensors and modelling: To monitor the operating environment of bearings: load, lubrication, temperature, and vibration.

Communication and signal processing technologies: To convert data into prognostic information and initiate corrective actions when required.

Maintenance management: Data systems and processes to integrate these condition based maintenance processes into management systems.

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