SKF increases footprints in India

January 11, 2012 7:07 am

Sweden-based global engineering firm SKF is strengthening its business activities in India and has taken several development measures. SKF is one of the leading suppliers of bearings, seals, mechatronics, lubrication systems, and services which include technical support, maintenance and reliability services, engineering consulting and training.
“India is an important market for SKF and we are committed to support the unique needs of customers in growing economies. At the same time, we are focused on world leading research and innovation both in India and internationally,” says Tom Johnstone, SKF President and CEO. “One of our driving forces is to deliver significant energy and carbon savings to our customers with our solutions.”
SKF inaugurates Global Technical Centre in BangaloreSKF has recently inaugurated a Global Technical Centre in Bangalore (GTCI) with an investment of Rs.50 crore. The opening of GTCI further reinforces SKF’s global strategy to open Global Technical Centres near its customers that focus on product innovations for all five SKF platforms – bearings, seals, mechatronics, lubrication systems and services.
The opening of GTCI is part of SKF’s technology strategy to develop a global product development and engineering organisation. The new Global Technical Center is the second development phase and will incorporate the existing Global Testing Center, opened in 2009 and the Automotive Development Centre, opened in 2004, both of which are located in Bangalore.
“With the launch of GTCI, our customers in India will benefit from ‘closer to home’ availability of SKF’s global knowledge and expertise to address the growing need in India for newer technology development at a faster pace,” says Shishir Joshipura, Managing Director SKF India Limited. “Additionally, over the last two years, SKF opened three factories in Ahmedabad, Mysore and Haridwar to meet the growing demand of customers and the expanding product base in the region.”
SKF launches a stop-start solution for the 2-wheeler industryRecently, in Mumbai, the company has launched SKF StopGo sensor-bearing solution, an automatic stop-start system for motorcycles and scooters. This innovative solution lowers C02 emissions, and improves fuel economy by an estimated 6-10 per cent, depending on driving conditions.
Mr. Joshipura informed, “Start stop mechanism is a unique solution which is fast becoming the norm in the automotive space and has been seen only in the four wheeler segment till now. But with the launch of SKF’s StopGo solution, we bring it to the two wheeler segment as well.”
SKF StopGo design concept allows it to be customised as a ready-to-fit unit which can be assembled quite easily for both OEMs and as a retrofit for a wide range of makes of two wheelers already on the road. The system can be applied to a wide variety of motorcycles, independent of engine size.
Harsha Kadam, Director – Global (Two Wheeler business), SKF India said, “StopGo is a technically advanced and sustainable product from SKF for the two-wheeler segment. It is aimed at conservation of fuel and reduction of carbon emissions from two-wheelers. The two-wheeler manufacturers, end user and in turn, the environment is going to derive huge benefit from this solution.” He added, “This technology also reaffirms our commitment towards providing sustainable solutions and help our customers and users to reduce their carbon footprint.”
When the vehicle stops, e.g. at traffic lights, SKF StopGo senses this and, after a predetermined, but programmable short time shuts off the engine. It restarts the engine when the throttle is turned.
SKF StopGo is a three-in-one integrated sensor-bearing solution that performs a bearing function, speed sensing and stop-start functions. The unit fits into the hub of the front wheel, like a standard bearing, and is connected by a plug-and-play connector to a mating connector attached to the engine stop-start electronics.
As well as sensing the speed for the stop-start function, the speed sensing in the SKF StopGo provides normal speed data for digital tachometers, which are becoming more preferred than analog systems in new 2-wheeler models. In addition, this new single-unit solution offers advantages of weight saving of up to 60 per cent compared to the many current separate mechanical components needed for the front wheel bearing and speed sensing.
SKF showcases next generation SE Bearing HousingSKF displayed its new self-aligning solution, SE Bearing Housing during the Technical Press Day in Mumbai. SE Bearing Housing will be formally launched in 2012.
The new SE Housing is an upgrade from the highly successful SNL range of bearing housing. The SE Housing from SKF will be reliable, flexible solution for mounted bearing application and are designed to meet specific customer applications across industrial applications such as metals, mining & cement, material handling and construction. The SE bearing housing will be available in various sizes, with special design features enhancing service life of the bearing thereby significantly reducing maintenance cost and related downtime.
In addition, the product has been accredited with Environmental Class C3 under ISO 12944 certification. This high quality product offers improved rust protection and improved heat conduction. Its ‘Easy to Keep Clean’ design is stiff, robust and sleek and are more resistant to deformation along with ensuring lower grease consumption with lesser harm to the environment.