SKF powering Citroen C4 Cactus and Peugeot 2008

Gothenburg, 19 March 2015: SKF is supplying PSA Group with wheel hub bearing units, for front and rear wheels, MacPherson suspension bearing units, clutch bearing units, engine seals as well as selected gearbox bearings for the recently launched Citroen C4 Cactus and Peugeot 2008.

Virgine Dinca, Strategic Account Manager, Automotive Market says, “These latest small SUVs have impressive new design features. SKF is equipping these models with several solutions to support the performance requirements for more power, while improving fuel efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions. SKF has a long partnership with the PSA Group and has successfully provided them with valuable solutions to optimize vehicle handling and fuel economy”.

These small SUVs are equipped with wheel hub bearing units and MacPherson suspension bearing units that help to optimize the driving performance in different road conditions. In the engine valve stem seals and PTFE crankshaft seals support the overall fuel consumption and CO2 reduction targets. SKF’s specific design for clutch bearing units, installed in the manual gearboxes, offers consistent “best in class” response over the life time of the application.

SKF supplies bearings for next-generation aircraft engines

Gothenburg, 18 March 2015: SKF will supply CFM International with mainshaft and gearbox bearings for the LEAP engine program, a high-bypass aircraft turbofan engine.

SKF has a long business relationship with CFM International and has contributed knowledge in manufacturing technology, design and testing of mainshaft and accessory gearbox bearings throughout the development of the LEAP engine.

The ceramic hybrid mainshaft bearings that have been developed for the LEAP engine program will help contribute to a lighter, quieter and more fuel efficient aircraft engine, that emits up to 16% less carbon than its predecessor, the CFM56.

“Being involved in one of the industry’s most prestigious engine development programs is an exciting opportunity for us. It is also an acknowledgment that our collaborative approach to technology development supports the industry’s focus on reducing emissions,” says Patrick Tong, President, Specialty Business.

LEAP is a next-generation aircraft engine being designed and developed with a focus on improving fuel consumption and reducing emissions and noise levels. Variations of the LEAP engine will equip the Airbus A320neo, Boeing 737 MAX and COMAC C919 aircrafts.    

SKF innovation helps Scuderia Ferrari reduce weight and power losses

2015 March 12, 14:00 CEST  New bearing technology from SKF is helping to improve the gearbox performance and race life for this Scuderia Ferrari’s season

Gothenburg, Sweden, 12 March 2015: SKF, the knowledge engineering company, is continuing its partnership with Scuderia Ferrari in 2015, with the development of specialised components and systems to reduce weight and frictional power losses.

SKF has worked closely with Scuderia Ferrari to produce bearing sets manufactured from specially developed tool steel. By adapting the heat treatment process, SKF has been able to optimise the surface hardness properties. This makes each bearing extremely resistant to surface fatigue and able to withstand the exceptionally high contact stresses found in Formula One applications. As a result, bearings can be downsized without affecting performance or reliability.

The new bearing sets are now being used in the latest Scuderia Ferrari gearbox, where the ability to downsize has helped reduce overall weight by more than 20%. Gearbox performance is improved still further by the use of ceramic bearing rollers and optimised internal geometries; combined, these are making a significant reduction in frictional power losses.

In a further development, Scuderia Ferrari is also using the latest condition monitoring technology from SKF. This is based on the company’s modular IMx platform, which has been re-engineered to meet the specific demands of the Team. In particular, SKF has adapted the hardware to enable it to process exceptionally large volumes of data at high speeds – typically up to 100 times faster than normally required in even the toughest of industrial applications.

Installed on Scuderia Ferrari engine and turbo test rigs, and using advanced SKF Observer software, the condition monitoring system provides asset protection, improved operational efficiency, preventive maintenance, and an increased speed of development.

Ing. Mattia Binotto – Power Unit Director of Scuderia Ferrari, explains, “SKF has played an important role in helping us develop the new 2015 Formula One car. The IMx solution is giving us fresh insight into how our engines perform, while the new gearbox bearings, along with specialised parts for our energy recovery and other critical on board systems, will be vital in helping us maintain a competitive advantage in the coming races.”

Jeroen Wensing, Innovation Manager SKF Racing Unit, adds, “SKF has sponsored Scuderia Ferrari since 1947, which is the longest technical partnership of its kind in F1 history. Together, we’ve always sought to push the boundaries of performance and reliability, taking the engineering knowledge gained to help our customers throughout industry with fresh ideas and constant innovation.”

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