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One of our biggest strength is our capability of providing end to end solutions from design phase to repairs and maintenance which encompasses the entire equipment and machine lifecycle and we continue to build on it, says Hrishikesh Kulkarni, Business Head - Drives and Off-highway, Industrial Market, SKF India. Excerpts from the interview....

What is the scope for lifetime lubricated bearings in the CE sector?
Off-highway vehicles are expected to work in challenging and demanding environment, where maintenance and repairs are often inconvenient as well as potentially costly. SKF has looked at ways of making life easier for off-highway vehicle operators. Applications have been targeted where the effects of contamination from harsh conditions can take their toll. These include critical applications for the axle pivot joint and the kingpin, oscillating articulation joints and boom applications. The result is innovate offerings components that combine SKF?s expertise in materials knowledge with advanced lubrication and sealing concepts. The solutions offered are lubrication-free and environmental friendly.

What are the advantages of maintenance-free bearings from SKF?
The maintenance-free bearings from SKF offer a number of advantages for OEMs and end users alike, like minimal maintenance and reduced lubricant consumption. Also, the impact that maintenance-free bearings have on the environment is an added benefit.

SKF manufactures maintenance-free spherical plain bearings in a variety of designs and a wide range of sizes. SKF maintenance-free spherical plain bearings help to eliminate the need for re-lubrication, and reduce the total cost of ownership. SKF maintenance-free spherical plain bearings incorporate special sliding layers of modern materials which have very low friction. They are used for applications where long bearing lives are required without maintenance, or where operating conditions are such that the use of steel/steel bearing is inadvisable. SKF also has a unique and novel solution in form of extended life plain bearings. Featuring high-grade, carbon chromium steel to minimise the risk of corrosion, SKF extended life plain bearings offer a relubrication-free alternative to frequent re-greasing. Non-toxic grease fills the bearing, which is then sealed with steel-reinforced SKF LS heavy duty triple-lip seals for high performance over long periods.

Could you brief us the range and solution offered by your company?
We provide complete solutions by way of bearings, central lubrication systems, condition monitoring and design engineering for the off-highway, construction and agricultural machinery.

SKF has a broad range of bearings types like standard cylindrical roller bearings, spherical roller bearings, plain bearings, slew ring bearings. Also, we have world-class unique offerings like Y-bearings for agricultural applications, SKF Explorer class spherical roller bearings and application-specific sensorised bearings; all of which ensure reliability and energy-efficiency to OEMs and end users alike.

Could you brief us on GTCI?
The opening of GTCI is part of SKF?s technology strategy to develop a global product development and engineering organization. The-state-of-art centre located in Bangalore focuses on testing and on providing advanced technical knowledge for design, process and supplier validation. 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 of incorporating latest technology in their new product development.

Please share with us your vision for year 2020.
The idea is to leverage our resources to find solution to customer?s problems faster, deliver high quality products and services that differentiate us in the market, continue to innovate and drive enhanced operational efficiency.