SKF's operations in Sweden are set to be given a boost with the inauguration of a completely new, fully automated and digital production process in Gothenburg, adapted for the manufacture of spherical roller bearings. The new production unit is the first of its type to be put into operations within the SKF Group and is part of a programme of next generation manufacturing technology within the company.
"The production flow is totally unique within the bearings industry, and constitutes a new manufacturing standard for us, which we will replicate into numerous facilities within the Group.
The investment programme is important for us if we are to utilise our manufacturing capacity even more efficiently, as well as increasing our global competitiveness and the flexibility we can offer our customers," says Luc Graux, Director of Manufacturing for the SKF Group.
Using the help of digital technology, the entire value chain in the production process is connected, from the inflow of input components to the delivery of the product to the end user. In addition, the next generation of mobile infrastructure is combined with the manufacturing process, in order to enhance efficiency.
"The new production unit will open up new possibilities for us to reduce lead times and to improve flexibility and efficiency in our production," says Sten Karlsson, project manager for the new production unit.
Parallel to the investment in Gothenburg, similar investments are planned for Schweinfurt in Germany, Nilai in Malaysia and Flowery Branch in the USA.
Over a million bearings per year are manufactured in the Gothenburg facility. The majority of these are exported. The products are used in heavy industry, such as mining, steelworks, paper machines, wind turbines, train gearboxes, fans and pumps.
SKF is a leading global supplier of bearings, seals, mechatronics, lubrication systems, and services which include technical support, maintenance and reliability services, engineering consulting and training.
SKF is represented in more than 130 countries and has around 17,000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2015 were SEK 75 997 million and the number of employees was 46 635. www.skf.com