SKF and Boralex are in the process of developing a new dashboard to help wind-farm operators optimize the profitability of turbines: the Wind Reliability Dashboard. The dashboard aims to improve operators ability to reduce costs and make long-term planning decisions based on in-depth data drawn from a range of critical sources. These include: condition-monitoring systems,…
Extending main-shaft bearing life in wind turbines
By David de Garavilla & Dr. Xiaobo Zhou SKF The renewable energy sector is being forced to reduce the levelized cost of electricity (LCoE). The wind energy industry is striving to match or exceed the LCoE of traditional energy sources. Due to the cost of the equipment combined with the lower relative operations and…
How SKF is letting data drive its decision-making
Only a few companies lay claim to a century of business and SKF is one with 112 years of history. Founded in 1907, the bearings and seals manufacturer was founded in Sweden. Within a couple of years, it formed branch offices in various European countries, including a subsidiary in New York. Today, SKF continues to…
New online tool makes bearing selection faster and easier
SKF has updated its online Bearing Select tool, to make the process of selecting and evaluating a bearing faster and easier. To use the new tool, designers access it online and enter relevant values for their design. The software then uses SKF engineering knowledge to evaluate bearing performance and calculate relevant results, such as rating…
SKF Fiber Optic Sensing device offers instant overview of equipment performance
SKF’s new sensing technology takes monitoring to the next level, providing engineers with new insights into machine performance. SKF Fiber Optic Sensing uses optical fibers to measure forces, in real time, in difficult environments and without electronics. The technology provides an instant overview of equipment performance, measuring parameters including load, speed, temperature and more. This…
How large offshore wind turbines are challenging bearing designs
Despite the challenges of constructing offshore turbines and their bearing designs, the capacity there is expected to grow as suitable land-based sites become scarcer and operators take advantage of the greater consistency of wind at sea.
New online catalogue from SKF makes bearings selection easier
The latest edition of SKF’s popular Rolling Bearings Catalogue is now available online. The authors have aimed to make this new publication an essential engineering reference for users of rolling bearings, covering their appropriate selection, configurations, and applications, and providing detailed guidance on correct installation procedures to ensure long and trouble-free service life. The Engineering…
SKF goes digital to optimize product costs & performance
Digitalization is having a huge effect on manufacturing – and SKF is at the forefront of using it to improve business in the service of customers. The ability to collect and manipulate vast amounts of digital information will catapult manufacturing into the future. By embracing digitalization, SKF is enhancing its core offering (including bearings technology…
SKF intros higher-performance INSOCOAT bearings
With it’s latest generation of electrically insulated bearings, SKF has raised the performance standard to provide constant electrical performance, even in high humidity. SKF’s INSOCOAT bearings have an electrically insulating coating on the external surfaces of its inner or outer ring, and are plasma-sprayed with an aluminum-oxide coating. The coating, which is naturally hygroscopic, is sealed…
New SKF Explorer class bearings promise faster speeds & improved reliability
SKF‘s Explorer high-performance, long-life bearings range now includes an improved single-row angular contact ball bearing that delivers a number of benefits for designers and operators of screw compressors, pumps, and gearboxes seeking to reduce the total cost of ownership of this equipment through improved reliability and energy efficiency. Featuring a redesigned brass cage that delivers…
SKF offers new high-performance seal option on a range of bearings
SKF is making its high-performance RSH seal design available on a larger range of SKF Explorer deep-groove ball bearings. The tried and tested RSH seal uses a highly optimized dual-lip configuration to provide additional protection in demanding environments. For users, the result is bearings that last longer, especially in wet, contaminated or dusty operating conditions,…
Kaydon Bearings introduces new interactive slewing-ring-bearing selector
The selector includes four-point contact, eight-point contact, cross roller, and three-row roller slewing ring bearings.
SKF sponsors its 11th wind farm management conference. Report here
Most respondents expect average O&M spend per MW/year to reduce in the next two years consistently with the 2015 Survey. Close to 50% expect a drop between 0 to 10%
SKF talks Industrial Ecology: Engineering for sustainable development
SKF is sparking conversation and spreading ideas with a new series of a knowledge-sharing symposium called “Let’s Talk”.
SKF’s new app-based maintenance support system simplifies wind-turbine inspections
SKF, turbine component and service supplier, has developed a new analysis and support system to suit the needs of the global wind-power industry. SKF Enlight mobile with Cloud-based data collection is designed to improve inspection efficiency and reduce costs for frontline maintenance teams. It also provides wind-farm operators with rich, real-time data on turbine performance and…
SKF unwraps a battery-driven grease gun
SKF has announced a new battery-driven grease gun, the TLGB 20. Developed to maximize efficiency, this tool includes a grease meter to help prevent over and under-lubrication. Suitable for a variety of manual lubrication tasks, the SKF Battery-Driven Grease Gun is optimized for use in lubricating bearings and machines in industrial and manufacturing environments, as…
SKF Customized Interfacing integrates condition monitoring data into business management systems
SKF Customized Interfacing from connects SKF @ptitude suite with business management systems to make critical condition monitoring data available for review in one location and enable better decision making. SKF has launched a new SKF Customized Interfacing that integrates the SKF @ptitude condition monitoring suite with customers’ existing ERP and CMMS solutions. This allows businesses…
High performance polyurethane seals for wind turbines
SKF has developed a new generation of highly effective and easily maintained shaft seals for wind turbines that can prolong service life. Wind power has entered the mainstream. By the end of 2014 global wind generation capacity had reached 369.6 GW according to Global Wind Energy Council. The share of wind energy in electricity production…
SKF offers new entry-level laser shaft-alignment system
SKF announced the introduction of the TKSA 31 shaft-alignment tool for easy laser alignment at an entry-level price. Developed for rotating machines in industrial applications, the instrument helps customers identify and correct shaft mis-alignments to improve equipment uptime and reliability, and lower maintenance costs. The TKSA 31 and previously announced TKSA 41 are sharing the…
SKF to supply wind turbine bearings to ReGen Powertech
SKF has signed a strategic agreement with ReGen Powertech, a leading wind turbine manufacturer in India. Under the terms of the agreement, SKF will supply pitch and yaw bearing sets and mainshaft bearings for the company’s 1.5-MW wind turbines. Shishir Joshipura, Managing Director and Country Head, SKF India, said, “This agreement positions us as a…