SKF (U.K.) Limited

SKF has introduced two new portable, compact, easy-to-use, multi-function Stroboscopes, allowing rotating or reciprocating machinery to be inspected safely and efficiently while in operation. The Stroboscope TKRS 10 and TKRS are high quality instruments, that as well as being ergonomically designed, incorporate unique functions such as the phase shift mode facility, allowing the object of interest to be rotated to the correct position for viewing. As an essential instrument for maintenance technicians, both stroboscopes are useful for operator driven reliability (ODR) programmes.

SKF has announced the availability of the SKF DryLube Bearing, a new bearing solution that contains a specially engineered graphite mixture, eliminating the need for grease re-lubrication; delivering reliable, improved performance and allowing significant cost savings to be made in reduced maintenance and downtime. The SKF Drylube Bearings will benefit equipment, such as rollers, which are repeatedly subjected to extremely high temperatures in applications such as bakeries, food processing, mills, foundries, or other heavy industries.

The latest range of STABILUS gas springs and dampeners from SKF, the knowledge engineering company, has been developed to offer designers a wide range of options for designing safe, reliable and cost-effective opening systems. Now windows, skylights, roof vents and smoke exhaust flaps can benefit from controlled, force-assisted opening and gentle closing, safe positioning or fast shoot functions. STABILUS gas spring and dampeners have been designed to withstand the most demanding use, are available in a variety of configurations and incorporate innovative features offering functional safety and convenience to the end user.

Advanced spherical roller bearings, developed and manufactured by SKF, the knowledge engineering company, are playing a vital role in supporting a 40 tonne, 30m opening deck on the Pont Y Werin bridge in South Wales. The bearing units form part of a powerful hydraulic system that is capable of lifting the bridge deck safely and efficiently in just two minutes to a vertical position of 75 degrees, while withstanding wind speeds of up to 25m/sec.

The leading knowledge engineering company, SKF, has announced the availability of its new SKF Idler Sound Monitor Kit. This is an easy to use, rugged and handheld monitoring device for early detection of faults in conveyor belt idlers. Conveyor idlers support the length of a conveyor belt and are a common cause of belt damage and production downtime. The SKF Idler Sound Monitor Kit will enable early detection of faulty idlers and prevent costly belt repairs, lost production and risk to workers.

SKF, the knowledge engineering company, has extended its range of E2 energy efficient bearings to include double row angular contact ball bearings (DRACBB). The innovative SKF E2 DRACBB range of bearings has been specifically engineered and manufactured to reduce frictional moment by at least 30% compared with standard bearings.

SKF, the knowledge engineering company, has developed a new low weight hub bearing unit that can reduce component weight by up to 40% when compared with traditional plain hub bearing units. These lighter units are designed for use on cars, including electric and light commercial vehicles, benefiting car manufacturers as well as the automotive aftermarket by offering improved handling, greater load capacity, increased fuel savings and reduced CO2 emissions to the end user.

SKF, the leading knowledge engineering company, has launched its SKF fryer bearings specifically designed for use on automatic frying equipment and capable of withstanding the demanding oil-filled environment and high temperatures of fried food processing. The SKF fryer bearing units offer extended bearing service life, are corrosion resistant and maintenance free, while benefitting manufacturers in food processing sectors where reliability and risk of contamination are key obstacles in ensuring optimum productivity and keeping production costs to a minimum.

Phil Burge, Communication Manager for SKF, explores the options of motor replacement and repair looking in detail at the latest bearing technology that is enabling considerable energy savings to be realised.

Following a series of highly successful product launches and company acquisitions, such as the VOGEL and Lincoln Industrial buyouts, SKF, the world’s leading knowledge engineering company, has now completed a major stage in its strategy to build its global lubrication systems business, which represents a fundamental part of the SKF Group. This latest development sees lubrication systems now forming one of the company’s key technology platforms, making it a significant player in the lubrication market to provide quality solutions to companies throughout industry, from the heavy sectors, like steel, quarrying and cement, through automotive manufacturing and specialised applications in food production.

Condition monitoring, for predictive and preventative maintenance strategies, is widely used throughout industry, with the long term reliability of manufacturing and process systems depending on devices designed to allow plant operators to react to impending failure within the system being monitored.

SKF, has extended its SKF Microlog family of portable data collection systems with the introduction of a new instrument ideally suited for the onsite balancing of rotors. Ideally suited for electrical motor rewinders, the SKF Microlog Field Balancer will support both single or dual plane balancing; and with its easy to follow menus can provide a simple summary report of trial and balancing runs prior to the engineer leaving site.

SKF, has developed an innovative new ball bearing unit to improve the performance of turbochargers, cutting fuel consumption by up to 2% and reducing C02 emissions by 3%, by comparison with traditional plain bearing systems. Ideal for use in a wide range of applications across industry, including in the car, truck, marine, energy, construction and agricultural sectors, the Turbocharger Ball Bearing Unit is set to become an indispensable tool in the effort to cut fuel consumption and improve overall engine performance.

SKF, the world’s leading knowledge engineering company, has launched the new Rotor Positioning Sensor Bearing Unit designed to improve the performance of automotive electric power steering systems, the new bearing unit can reduce fuel consumption by around 0.2-0.3 litres/100km and C02 emissions by up to 3%, compared with conventional hydraulic steering systems.

SKF, the world’s leading knowledge engineering company, has launched an innovative new Rocker Arm Bearing Unit developed to enhance the operating of valve mechanisms in 4-stroke engines. This revolutionary technology will allow considerable fuel savings to be realised, along with significant reductions in both friction and operating temperatures, and has been introduced to meet the increasing demands of an increasingly competitive global market, as well as end users who are looking for more innovative, fuel-efficient engines.

Amal Grow, one of the largest vegetable growers in the Channel Islands, has achieved a dramatic 75% reduction in maintenance times on its potato grading and washing machines, simply by upgrading the bearing units and fitting SKF SYSTEM 24 single point automatic lubricators.

A revolutionary kart axle unit solution and cylindrical roller engine bearings from SKF, the knowledge engineering company, have helped the international kart team, Chiesa Corse, and driver, Nyck De Vries, win the CIK-FIA KF2 World Cup 2010 at the Circuit Aragonese Zuera, Spain. SKF Racing Unit has been supporting Chiesa Corse for many years and has provided the successful team with bespoke technical kart solutions, specially designed for kart wheel applications, and innovative engine bearings.

SKF, has signed an agreement to acquire leading US based lubrication systems provider, Lincoln Holdings Enterprises Inc., in a move to strengthen still further its product offering and range of services. SKF is purchasing the business for USD 1 billion on a cash and debt free basis from Harbour Group, a privately owned operating company based in St Louis, Missouri, USA.

SKF has opened an innovative new Solution Factory at its UK headquarters in Luton. Designed to unite the company’s key service and product offerings under a single banner, the new Solution Factory is part of a programme being rolled out globally with the aim of providing customers with an integrated suite of facilities to help them improve key business processes, while enhancing productivity and profitability.

SKF has launched an innovative range of infrared thermometers to enable highly accurate temperature measurement as part of machine condition monitoring to help reduce downtime and maintenance costs, and eliminate the risk of catastrophic failure. These new high performance instruments have been designed to provide particularly quick, easy and safe measurement – simply aim, pull the trigger and read the temperature on the highly visible LCD display.