SKF Lubrication Technoloy

SKF Lubrication

Ball bearings

SKF was founded in 1907 as a factory for the manufacture of self-aligning ball bearings. The company grew rapidly in the years that followed and always remained at the cutting edge of technology with its new developments.

The company currently has one of the most comprehensive ranges of bearings and bearing units of all kinds. The products offered include ball bearings, roller bearings, track rollers, support rollers and cam rollers, as well as slide bearings in a wide array of variants. Depending on the type of construction, four performance classes can be distinguished.

Standard ball bearings are suitable for all standard applications. Thanks to their outstanding quality, they have a long service life.

Bearings of the Explorer performance class have considerably improved performance data due to optimised internal geometry and an improved surface finish on all contact surfaces. An improved cage made of high-purity homogeneous steel and an improved consistency of the rollers make these ball bearings particularly resilient.

Class E2 ball bearings are particularly energy efficient and a perfect choice for light to normal loads. Thanks to its special bearing geometry in combination with an improved cage and a new, low-friction lubricating grease, the friction torque is up to 30 percent lower than comparable ball bearings. 

Super-Precision bearings are designed for precision applications where high speeds, a high level of running accuracy and long operational life are critical. They are characterised by high speeds, high load-bearing capacity, high rigidity, low friction and longer bearing life. 

However, rolling bearings are suitable only to a limited extent for applications with pivoting movements and misalignments. Special spherical plain bearings, rod ends and slide bearings have been developed for this purpose. Thanks to the large selection, the right product can be found for every application. 

The product catalogue also includes a wide selection of track rollers, support rollers and cam rollers, as well as ready-to-install bearing units and bearing housings. Accessories such as adapter sleeves, withdrawal sleeves, shaft nuts and hydraulic nuts are, of course, also available.

Maintenance products

Over 16% of all bearing failures can be attributed to improper installation or unsuitable installation procedures. Proper handling of bearings can extend their operational life and prevent breakdowns.

For this purpose, SKF develops and distributes various tools for maintenance and service work, as well as installation and removal tools for bearings of all kinds.

The range includes hydraulic tools for the pressure oil process and the drive-up process, which has been specially developed for the installation of self-aligning roller bearings and CARB® toroidal roller bearings. 

Heaters for both mounting and dismounting of rolling bearings provide the operator with a high degree of control, efficiency and safety. The induction heaters offer the user extensive functions to protect the bearing from damage during heating. 

Laser-assisted alignment systems are used to avoid misalignments and associated machine breakdowns. These are aimed at aligning the machine parts precisely in the horizontal and vertical plane. Laser-assisted systems for aligning belts and shafts are available. Possible incorrect alignments can, for example, be corrected using compensating discs. 

The product catalogues for other tools and accessories include oil pumps and oil injectors, pressure gauges, hydraulic nuts, mechanical mounting tools for rolling bearings and bearing pullers. 

Seals

Seals are an integral component that ensure sustained high performance of all types of systems. Durable and reliable sealing components reduce maintenance and repair costs and increase the service life and efficiency of systems and their parts.

SKF offers sealing solutions for automotive engineering and industrial applications. As a leading manufacturer of seals for the transportation industry, the company offers a wide range of advanced sealing solutions for cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles and bicycles of all types. As a specialist in both rolling bearings and seals, SKF is able to combine these products into high-performance units that can withstand even the most extreme conditions and can be manufactured according to individual customer specifications.

Standard seals are also offered, such as those used in car bodies, drive trains or engines. Shaft seals, hydraulic seals and fluid seals of all kinds are offered for the industrial sector. 

Lubrication technology

In addition to bearings and seals, lubrication technology is one of the core competences of the SKF Group. Products and accessories in the field of lubrication technology are developed and distributed by the subsidiary, SKF Lubrication. The product portfolio includes a selection of speciality lubricants, as well as state-of-the-art lubrication equipment and systems. SKF Lubrication's integrated lubrication systems incorporate the entire wealth of experience of the SKF Group not only in lubrication technology but also in the field of bearings, seals and condition monitoring technology.

Lubricants

The choice of the right lubricant determines the long-term reliability of any moving system. Lubricants from SKF Lubrication are subjected to particularly strict quality control to ensure consistently high quality.

In addition to lubricants for general applications, SKF Lubrication also offers greases and oils for special requirements. The lubricants that are available include lubricants for low or particularly high temperatures, for particularly high loads, as well as environmentally compatible and food-compatible lubricants. 

Lubrication systems

Lubrication systems ensure optimum lubrication by delivering the right amount of lubricant to the right lubrication point at the right time. In addition to manual lubrication systems, SKF Lubrication also offers automatic lubricant distributors. 

The product portfolio includes automatic lubricators for single or multiple lubrication points, single, dual and multi-line lubrication systems, circulating oil and oil+air lubrication systems, minimum quantity lubrication systems and lubrication systems for special applications such as wind energy plants or railways. SKF Lubrication also offers individual solutions for customer-specific problems.

The range also includes products from the former Willy Vogel Zentralschmierung AG. Central lubrication systems under the Willy Vogel brand can supply individual as well as groups of lubrication points with precisely dosed quantities of lubricant from a central location. Thanks to their modular design, Willy Vogel central lubrication systems can be individually adapted to customer requirements. 

Linear guiding and positioning systems

Another SKF product line are products for motion tasks. Linear drive systems are used whenever a rotary motion is to be converted into a linear motion or a linear motion into a rotary motion. Ball screws and roller screws are available as driving solutions in different variants and sizes. Linear guides and tables provide the required accuracy, rigidity and exact and reproducible positioning. The range consists of linear ball bearings, profile rail guides, as well as linear tables and linear slides.

Magnetic systems

The subsidiary S2M has established itself as the global specialist for active magnetic bearings and permanent magnet technology for high-speed electric motors. The magnetic system components are used, among other things, in turbomolecular vacuum pumps such as those used in the semiconductor industry. Moreover, they are also used in integrated natural gas compressors. Other application possibilities include machine tool spindles, medical imaging equipment and compressor systems.