Focus on efficiency at Hillhead

Following January's prediction from the Construction Products Association (CPA) that industry growth will slow by 2.6% in 2005, SKF aims to focus attention on efficiency at Hillhead. Demonstrating how it can improve profitability and reduce costs through client partnerships, SKF will show products and services from five distinct technology platforms: services; seals; bearings and housings; lubrication systems; and mechatronics. Catching the eye in the SKF pavilion will be the Novanta drive-by-wire concept car. Providing brake-, clutch- and steer-by-wire, the vehicle is the result of a long-standing design partnership between SKF and vehicle design house Bertone. By-wire technologies emphasise SKF's advanced mechatronics, but also on show will be a series of other applications including a sensor steering axle and an IOS bearing for a bucket wheel loader. Elsewhere in the pavilion, a seals display will feature products for the minerals and heavy construction industries. In this area will be Speedi-sleeve wear sleeves, a seal assortment and heavy duty hydraulic cylinders fitted with innovative Carb bearings, spherical plain bearings and Sealpool seals. 'Our message to Hillhead visitors is clear', explained Phil Burge, UK Marketing Manager. 'SKF works with companies in mining, quarrying and construction as much more than a bearings supplier - offering consultancy services, predictive maintenance and condition monitoring to improve uptime'. 'For instance, this year we will feature an offer called total shaft solutions (TSS), which addresses all the engineering characteristics of any rotating shaft problem'. 'This benefits customers by providing improvements in machine performance, reduced maintenance and downtime and improved plant profitability'. Burge added: 'SKF has also developed specific equipment for the sector, such as Copperhead which is a combined bearing, lubrication and condition monitoring system for equipment such as vibrating screens'. Finally, the stand will also feature a running lubrication demonstration, based around some sophisticated new technology aimed at OEMs. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the systems a real application is displayed, and the SKF team will be on hand to explain how the principles can be applied in a variety of construction and quarrying equipment.