MechChem Africa July-August 2025

SKF’s integrated triple-action solution SKF has successfully delivered a powerful, integrated solution to a leading metals industry customer in Cameroon, combining advanced CoMo (condition monitoring) technology; quality, high-performance bearing products; underpinned professional, expert services. B efore implementing SKF’s holis tic solution, the customer had been operating in a conventional, reactive maintenance mode. Sub SKF’s ability to deliver not just individual components, but fully integrated solutions that drive real operational value. “Our joint efforts have also earned the customer’s trust, resulting in a new agreement to, in the future, source bearings through our distributor,” highlights Ndjee. “By combining deep application knowledge with cutting-edge technologies and service expertise, SKF continues to help customers reduce costs and improve asset performance, leading to more efficient and sustainable operations,” he concludes. www.skf.com

sequently, equipment, including fans and rolling mills, was routinely run to failure, with premature failure a common occurrence. This resulted in unplanned downtime and the need for systematic bearing replacements. Predictive maintenance practices were absent, with only global vibration measure ment conducted, while static balancing was outsourced to third-party test benches. Additionally, over-greasing of critical assets was a recurring issue, further compromising equipment performance, reliability and life cycle, while driving up costs and driving down production. SKF’s integrated approach Following an assessment, SKF responded to these challenges by recommending an inte grated approach with three components: con dition monitoring (CoMo), high-performance bearings, and on-site as well as remote service expertise to effectively target operational gaps. “This solution was designed not only to prevent premature failures but also to enable predictive maintenance, reduce over-greasing incidents and bring critical balancing processes in-house,” emphasises Lionel Ndjee, SKF Sales Engineer Central Africa. “In addition to vibration analysis, balanc ing and alignment services, we also provided our customer with lubrication assistance. Furthermore, we organised a technical session, supported remotely by our team of metals industry experts, to better understand the cus tomer’s challenges and tailor the most effective solution for their operations.” This triple-impact approach is a collabora tion between the local SKF team and their Authorised Distributor, TMC (Transmissions Manutention du Cameroun). The local distribu tor permitted the customer to take advantage of his ‘duty-free company in Cameroon’ status by delivering the goods ex works. All of this has not only boosted the customer’s operational efficiency and reliability but is also delivering measurable cost savings and sustainability benefits, such as extended service life of equip ment, demonstrating the value of a holistic strategy that is tailored to meet the customer’s exact demands. This successful collaboration underscores

SKF’s holistic strategy brings critical fan balancing processes in-house.

SKF is collaborating with an Authorised Distributor in Cameroon to drive operational value for customers with an integrated, triple-action solution: CoMo (condition monitoring); quality, high performance bearing products; and professional, onsite services

32 ¦ MechChem Africa • July-August 2025