SKF ReMan recently assisted two key customers in reducing input costs and improving their profitability through efficient sourcing, team collaboration, excellent refurbishing capabilities and ‘just in time’ delivery of Large Size Bearings (LSBs).

Seamless operation is fundamental to the sustainable production and productivity of processing plants. When it comes to the replacement of LSBs, customers not only face exorbitant costs but also long lead times with subsequent operational downtime and production losses.

Compelled by a sluggish local economy to ‘sweat’ existing assets, industry is turning to refurbishment as a faster and more cost effective solution.

“Because SKF understands the costly implications of an operational standstill for customers and end-users, we strive to offer product and service solutions that will help to maximise their uptime and productivity,” says SKF Service Manager, Simphiwe Malawana. ”The refurbishment of bearings to OEM standards by SKF’s local ReMan Centre in accordance with SKF’s stringent global quality control systems, offers a much more affordable solution compared to the cost of bearing replacement. In addition, a rapid turnaround time keeps downtime to a minimum while extended product life cycle further reduces costs and delivers lowest total cost of ownership.”

So when SKF was approached by two companies in the food and beverage and minerals processing sectors for the refurbishment of LSBs, SKF ReMan was able to offer a fast and cost effective solution.

Understanding the food and beverage giant’s urgent need to prolong the service life of four SKF 23248 CACK/C482W507 Flaking Mill spherical roller bearings, SKF ReMan offered to measure and analyse the units to determine if the bearings were suitable for refurbishment.

A detailed analysis report suggested that only one bearing was suitable and SKF ReMan applied its bearing remanufacturing process, equipment and competencies to successfully complete the ‘ReManufacturing’ process in less than a week. Minimum disruption to the production process and the extension of the service life of the bearing resulted in substantial cost savings for the customer.

When it was determined that the SKF factory’s lead time for LSBs required urgently by the minerals processing customer was eight months from manufacture to delivery, SKF South Africa actively searched for an alternative solution. “Fortunately, we were able to source these SKF 23296 CAK/C3W33 bearings from SKF Zambia who had two of them in stock,” explains Malawana. “Collaboration with our counterpart in Zambia saw the transfer of the unused bearings to the SKF ReMan Centre in Johannesburg for assessment.”

The bearings proved to be SL3 candidates and the customer instructed SKF to proceed with remanufacture. The local team partnered with SKF Logistics and Mechanical Field Services, completing the remanufactured process in an impressively short lead time of five days, ensuring on-time delivery to the customer.

“These two refurbishment projects serve as prime examples of exceptional teamwork as well as the lengths SKF will go to, to assist customers. Our relentless commitment to service excellence further strengthens customer relationships and this is what differentiates SKF as a complete bearing partner,” concludes Malawana. ”