Following the launch of its first large sized bearings manufacturing unit in India, Swedish company SKF is planning to invest about Rs 270 crore in next two years for full capacity utilisation. Set up by SKF Technologies (India) Pvt. Ltd., an associate company of SKF India Limited, the Ahmedabad plant will manufacture medium to large size bearings of various types and serve customers segments such as railways, wind, power generation, mining, and construction, material handling equipment, power transmission and industrial electrical.
"The factory will respond to the growing demand from the domestic Indian market as well as further strengthen SKF’s manufacturing presence for the heavy industrial segment in Asia. It is strategically located in one of the most industrialized and fastest growing areas of India. The Ahmedabad unit will cater to sectors like renewable energy, construction and railways, among others," said Shishir Joshipura, managing director of SKF India Ltd.
The plant will manufacture cylindrical roller bearings (CRB), taper roller bearings (TRB), railway bearing units and spherical roller bearings (SRB) from 240 mm to 1,500 mm in outer diameter, apart from manufacturing large size slewing bearings (SLB) up to 4,000 mm outer diameter.
According to Chandramowli Srinivasan, Chairman, SKF Technologies [India] Pvt. Ltd., the Ahmedabad factory has a state-of-the-art heat treatment facility. It is also equipped with a metrology lab with all the latest equipment and instrumentation for quality checks and on line control to ensure manufacturing excellence.
Moreover, the factory is built according to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Standard (LEED). It includes waste water recycling with zero discharge water treatment system. It also includes a harvesting system for rainwater, as well as a demand controlled ventilation system to increase indoor air quality.
Talking about capacity utilisation, Tom Johnstone, president and chief executive officer, AB SKF said, "While the commercial production has begun, full capacity utilisation will take place in next couple of years. For that, the company will be investing roughly Rs 270 crore in next two years. Since most of production will be customised, it is tough to state any fixed capacity for bearing manufacturing." At full capacity, the plant is expected to employ around 300 people.
Currently there are two fully operational state-of-the-art manufacturing plants in Pune and Bangalore. Apart from the large bearing manufacturing plant in Ahmedabad, the company also has a plant in Haridwar for ball bearings in automotive applications.