Skf Bearings: Austrian-Made Or Not?

SKF, the world's largest bearing manufacturer, was founded in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1907. The company manufactures and supplies bearings, seals, lubrication, and lubrication systems, among other products, and has operations in 130 countries. SKF's angular contact ball bearings are made in Austria and are suitable for racing applications. SKF's products are used in a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace, and railway, and the company is committed to continuous improvement and environmental sustainability.

SKF bearings in Austria

SKF, or AB SKF, is a Swedish bearing and seal manufacturing company that was founded in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1907. The company is the world's largest bearing manufacturer, with 44,000 employees in 108 manufacturing units and a presence in 130 countries.

SKF manufactures and supplies bearings, seals, lubrication and lubrication systems, maintenance products, mechatronics products, power transmission products, condition monitoring systems, and related services globally. The company's products are used in a wide range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, railway, and renewable energy.

In Austria, SKF manufactures angular contact ball bearings. These bearings are suitable for racing applications and are available in standard and custom designs. SKF's angular contact ball bearings are also available in the USA for car brands, factories, and other assembled posts.

SKF has a long history of innovation and growth. The company was established following the invention of the spherical ball bearing by engineer Sven Gustaf Wingquist. Wingquist's design allowed for self-alignment, solving problems associated with shaft misalignment and resulting in fewer production stops. This breakthrough technology formed the foundation of the company, which quickly expanded globally. By 1930, SKF had 12 manufacturing facilities worldwide and employed over 21,000 people.

Today, SKF continues to be a global leader in the bearing industry, known for its commitment to continuous improvement and its presence in various sectors, including automotive, aerospace, and renewable energy. The company's clients include well-known brands such as General Electric, Rolls-Royce plc, and Pratt & Whitney. SKF is also a sponsor of racing teams in NASCAR and Formula One, further showcasing its expertise in high-performance bearings.

SKF Explorer

The benefits of using SKF Explorer bearings include:

• Significantly extended service life
• Increased uptime and productivity
• Extended lubricant life
• Reduced sensitivity to misalignment
• Reduced noise and vibration
• Enabling downsized applications

SKF Energy Efficient (E2)

The E2 bearings are an innovative addition to SKF's range of energy-efficient products, designed for low to medium loads in the automotive and industrial sectors. They are equipped with a unique sealing solution, which prolongs the bearing's lifespan, reduces energy consumption, and lowers environmental impact.

The sealed deep groove ball bearings offer a 30% reduction in friction compared to similar sealed SKF Explorer bearings. This reduction in friction also results in lower operating temperatures, by 5-15°C, which in turn extends the lifespan of the bearing. The E2 bearings are available in sizes ranging from 6mm to 25mm bore diameter and are suitable for applications such as two-wheelers, water pumps, electric motors, and even elevators and escalators.

The E2 bearings underwent rigorous validation tests to prove their performance. These included a 10-hour test at 5000 and 8000 min-1 rotational speeds, as well as a 168-hour dust test, both of which the bearings passed with flying colours. The E2 bearings also demonstrated their water-repellent capabilities in dynamic and static water tests.

The benefits of the E2 bearings are clear. For example, in a textile machine equipped with 200 E2 bearings, up to 11,310 kWh of energy can be saved annually, resulting in an 8.5-tonne reduction in CO2 emissions. This not only reduces environmental impact but also lowers overall operating costs.

SKF bearing remanufacturing

SKF, the Swedish bearing and seal manufacturing company, offers bearing remanufacturing services to its customers. Remanufacturing can offer considerable benefits to medium- to large-sized bearings in demanding industries, including lower life-cycle costs and reduced downtime. This process can also support sustainability initiatives, which is an increasingly important issue for companies.

SKF's remanufacturing process involves an extensive analysis of bearing damage, careful costing, and application of the right remanufacturing procedure to ensure compatibility with the application's requirements. The company has a large number of centres around the world that can offer these services and is dedicated to expanding with new service centres in the future.

Bearing service life can be shorter than expected due to factors such as contaminants and sporadic metal-to-metal contact in the rolling contact area. SKF's remanufacturing process addresses these issues and can extend the potential service life of the bearing. The process may involve remanufacturing relevant functional surfaces and replacing bearing components if necessary. Depending on the bearing's condition, remanufacturing can take anywhere from a few hours to several days.

SKF's bearing remanufacturing services are offered for a range of industries, including heavy industries such as metals, mining, mineral processing, cement, pulp and paper, and marine. In addition to industrial bearings remanufacturing, SKF also offers remanufacturing for the railway industry, machine tool spindle remanufacturing, gearbox remanufacturing, and more.

The company's remanufacturing process also includes prevention of future damage. SKF customers can utilise the company's predictive maintenance expertise to avoid recurrence of damage and receive information about the status of plant machinery through various monitoring services. SKF also offers root-cause failure analysis, which helps to identify the causes and effects that impact bearing damage and develop a comprehensive plan of corrective action to avoid future problems.

SKF bearing types

SKF is a Swedish bearing and seal manufacturing company, founded in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1907. It is the world's largest bearing manufacturer, with 44,000 employees in 108 manufacturing units and an extensive distributor network spanning 130 countries.

SKF manufactures and supplies a wide range of bearing types, each designed for specific applications and performance requirements. Here is an overview of some of the key bearing types produced by SKF:

• Deep Groove Ball Bearings: These bearings are typically made in France and are commonly used in offices, printing, and medical equipment. The smallest bearing produced by SKF is the deep groove ball bearing 623, with a 3-millimeter bore.
• Spherical Roller Bearings: SKF manufactures the largest sealed spherical roller bearings. These bearings are produced at the company's factory in Gothenburg, Sweden, and offer superior performance in terms of load-carrying capacity and durability.
• Angular Contact Ball Bearings: Angular contact ball bearings are suitable for racing applications and are available in standard and custom designs. SKF's angular contact ball bearings are often made in Austria and are known for their high precision and performance.
• Tapered Roller Bearings: SKF's tapered roller bearings are manufactured in Germany and can be customized to meet specific requirements in terms of speed, load, contamination, temperature, and vibration.
• Cylindrical Roller Bearings: These bearings are also produced in Germany and offer a wide range of designs, series, variations, and sizes. They are versatile and can accommodate heavy radial loads and high speeds.
• Needle Roller Bearings: SKF's needle roller bearings, made in Germany, are available in various designs, series, and sizes. They are suitable for a broad range of operating conditions and applications.
• Spherical Roller Thrust Bearings: Featuring specially crafted raceways and asymmetrical rollers, these bearings can support radial and axial loads simultaneously. SKF manufactures these bearings in Sweden, ensuring high quality and performance.

In addition to these bearing types, SKF also produces custom bearings for specific industries and applications, such as backing bearings, caster bearings, and slewing bearings. The company's bearings are known for their precision, durability, and performance in a wide range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, and railway.

Frequently asked questions