Besides being a leading global supplier of bearings, seals, mechatronics, lubrication systems and services, the $9.5 billion SKF Group, with more than 48,000 employees worldwide and production sites in nearly 140 countries, offers solutions for almost all industries. ‘Beyond Zero’ is its environmental system to create a positive impact on the environment.
Presenting its Energy Efficient (E2) tapered roller bearings (TRB) to a select team of mediamen who were taken around the Pune factory recently, SKF India showed how effective these bearings are by reducing friction, ensuring less fuel consumption and minimising emissions from heavy trucks. As compared to SKF standard TRBs which are known for their high performance in this category, the new SKF E2 TRBs are a further improved lot with a friction reduction calculated at 30 per cent. This enables energy savings of upto approximately 500 watts depending on the application. Unlike competing products, this friction reduction is valid over the complete rpm range. For a typical truck running 1,00,000 km per year, equipped with four bearings of this type, reduction is estimated at 398 kg CO2 saving per year.
Mr. Ulrich A. Selig, Director, SKF Automotive Asia, explained in detail the working of all SKF facilities in India and overseas, and made a special mention of the group’s logistics centre in Singapore which makes kits for the aftermarket. SKF is keen on developing bearings which are light in weight, energy-efficient and more precise than ever before.
Replying to a media query, Mr. Chandramowli Srinivasan, Director – Finance, SKF India Ltd., said that as a world leader in bearings, SKF always believes in innovation and investments for expansion of actitivities.
Decades of leadership
SKF Pune was one of the first factories set up by SKF in Asia, in 1965. Over 20 channels work round the clock in this unit whose operation is backed by nearly 1,000 people. It manufactures a wide range of bearings with high precision. SKF has around 90 manufacturing facilities around the world. It is its quality system that ensures there is a common standard product across the globe.
Backed by nearly five decades of operations, the Pune factory has emerged a manufacturing hub with its strategic geographic location, skilled manpower and optimised production costs and resources. This efficient combination of technology, experience and practical insight enables the company to deliver solutions that are both present and future ready.
Pillars of growth
Further, the global technical development centre (GTCI) in Bangalore, which is part of the company’s global initiative, drives innovation by developing products and solutions for local and global customers in a faster and more effective way.
Dun and Bradstreet has recognised SKF as the best bearing company in India for the seventh consecutive year. With focus on cleaner environment, all the SKF facilities are developed with Green Technology. The company also believes in CSR activities.
Indian operations
Earlier, formally welcoming the media, Ms. Pallavi Deshmukh, Head – Country Communications, SKF India Ltd., said that with its operations in over 130 countries and with an experience of over a century, the company caters to more than 40 segments across the globe. With full understanding of the customer needs and problems, SKF started its operations in India in 1923. Today it is a Rs. 2,200-crore organisation, with 2,400 employees and six manufacturing facilities in the country.
She further observed: “We are present in all major locations in the country, with over 20,000 strong business distribution network across the entire industrial and automotive businesses. We are also leaders in the lubrication systems with the acquisition of Lincoln of USA. In the automotive area we cater to all segments – two-wheelers, cars, trucks, tractors and power transmission segments. The SKF brand is also a preferred choice of most of the Indian OEMs.”