SKF launches UK Solution Factory
Knowledge engineering company, SKF, has opened an innovative new Solution Factory at its UK headquarters in Luton. Designed to unite the company's key service and product offerings under a single banner, the new Solution Factory is part of a programme being rolled out globally with the aim of providing customers with an integrated suite of facilities to help them improve key business processes, while enhancing productivity and profitability.
Vartan Vartanian, president of SKF Service Division unveiled the new facility at an official ceremony, in front of 60 invited guests. The SKF Solution Factory is based around existing engineering, project management and analytical services at its Luton plant, supported as appropriate, by specialist production resources at the company's manufacturing and technical centres around the world.
In particular, the new facility brings together essential services, including asset efficiency optimisation, root cause failure and lubrication analysis, application engineering and spindle and large size bearing refurbishment, plus project, energy and sustainability management.
Attending the official opening, Michael Crean, director of SKF Service Division UK, said: "The global SKF Solution Factory programme is … a vital element in our long term strategy, as it repositions our business as a key provider of knowledge engineering to customers at all levels, from senior management though planning and purchasing to production and engineering. Just as importantly, it enables us to partner with customers to develop unique solutions that deliver tangible commercial benefits from both existing and newly emerging technologies."
The first SKF Solution Factory was opened in Shanghai in 2008. Since then a second Solution Factory has been set up in China and a further 10 across the globe. As part of the ongoing UK programme, the facility has been restructured, with continuous process and personnel development.
