SKF showcase their circular economy product, technology and service solutions at Mining Indaba 2024

With mining a key account segment for SKF globally, SKF South Africa will use Mining Indaba 2024 as a platform to spotlight their premium brand mining and industrial product, technology and service solutions that underpin their relentless drive towards a circular economy, assisting customers in achieving their economic and environmental sustainability goals.

With over 100 years of experience, SKF is a global leader in the development, design and manufacture of premium quality bearings, seals, lubrication systems and related cutting-edge technologies. The company’s capabilities also extend to machine health assessment (condition monitoring), reliability engineering and remanufacturing.

With businesses doubling down on calibrating increased production with decreased operating costs, coupled with environmental compliancy, the global focus has shifted to creating a circular economy. Saien Rugdeo, Industrial Distribution and Regional Sales Manager at SKF South Africa, points out that mines face similar as well as their own unique challenges. Achieving machine reliability and subsequent rotating asset optimisation are pivotal for efficient, sustainable and indeed profitable operation.

SKF is on a global and local drive that embraces the concept of reliability and a circular economy, which go hand in glove. Here, remanufacturing, predictive maintenance and asset management play a pivotal role. “In a bid to ensure that crucially important factors such as maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) work, which regrettably do not always enjoy top priority, is prioritised, we must first have a clear understanding of the mine’s vision and ensure that our premium technical support and supply is done through the right channels,” notes Rugdeo.

Programmes such as Customer Needs Analysis (CNA) and Stock Inventory Management Optimisation (SIMO), perfectly position SKF South Africa to assist mines on the African continent with streamlining their supply chains through the procurement of application-specific products.

“Through an integrated approach – product, technology, engineering, reliability, intelligent and service solutions, in collaboration with our wide Authorised Distributor network and our Circular Economy Centre located at our head office in Johannesburg, Gauteng, we have created a strategic efficient supply chain ecosystem with distributors, customers and end-users,” shares Rugdeo.

Training programmes are part and parcel of SKF’s reliability / circular economy drive. “There is a direct correlation between correct product use and equipment reliability,” stresses Rugdeo. “Subsequently it is our objective to train future leaders, engineers and industry pioneers.”

Training programmes offered to local communities and educational institutions form the cornerstone of SKF’s corporate social responsibility initiatives. “We are committed to developing local talent by equipping them with the necessary skills and SKF knowledge on best modern mining practises in relation to rotating equipment reliability,” says Rugdeo. He also points out that continuous training and honing of skills serve to arm people with the necessary tools that enable them to keep in step with the rapid advancement of technology.

Staying on the topic of technology, Rugdeo advises that visitors to Mining Indaba 2024 will also have the opportunity to view some of SKF’s intelligent solutions including the smart Quick Collect sensors.

One of SKF’s greatest strengths is the ability to keep developing new technologies and redesigning applications and value-adding solutions for customers to assist them with their decarbonisation drives. However, SKF also scrutinises its own environmental practices in a bid to shrink its carbon footprint. Equally important to their environmental principles is a focus on diversity in the workplace. “We therefore prefer to partner with like-minded customers that embrace similar values,” says Rugdeo.

He wraps up: “We pledge our relentless commitment to developing value-adding circular economy product, technology, training and remanufacturing solutions and to establishing long-term partnerships with our customers, adding value to their supply chain.”

Mining Indaba is hosted at the Cape Town ICC from 5 to 8 February 2024.