SKF and voestalpine Wire Technology, a subsidiary of the leading steel and technology group voestalpine, have successfully produced the first prototype bearing made from steel that contains hydrogen direct reduced iron (H-DRI). This represents a breakthrough in the efforts to decarbonise bearing production as H-DRI is a low-emission alternative to conventional iron ore-based steelmaking, and one of the important methods to make steel sustainable in the future. By using H-DRI steel, SKF and voestalpine Wire Technology aim to meet the demand for green steel, and thereby contribute to the global efforts to combat climate change.
Spherical roller bearings can be used in many different applications and industries, such as marine, pulp and paper, mining and construction. “Steel is a critical raw material in bearings, and this technology is fundamental for the steel industry to be able to decarbonise with confidence,” says Annika Ölme, CTO and senior vice president of Technology Development at SKF.
For voestalpine Wire Technology the partnership with SKF marks a milestone in the development of eco-friendly steel production technologies. SKF is also increasing its use of steel production processes with low CO2 emissions from its suppliers such as scrap-based electric arc furnace production. In 2021, SKF became a member of the Steel Zero and the Responsible Steel initiatives, joining other like-minded businesses in showing a clear commitment to decarbonising the steel industry by 2050 and advocating for the changes needed to make that happen.
Automatic lubrication systems drive mobile mine machine reliability and uptime SKF South Africa
Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
SKF’s Lincoln P203 progressive lubrication systems are improving reliability and uptime on mobile machines at a Zambian gold mine, with installation of 45 units completing by October 2026.
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Mammoet provided specialised heavy lift and marine logistics support for the Munin topsides on Aker BP’s Yggdrasil North Sea development, including a complex transshipment operation and a tidal-window load-out classified as a Class 1 operation.
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Motion Control & Drives
Kollmorgen has extended its Essentials motion platform into 400 to 480 V high-voltage applications, allowing machine builders to right-size their motion systems without stepping up to unnecessarily complex or over-specified solutions.
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Siemens has expanded its Sinamics portfolio with the G200, a compact general-purpose frequency converter that supports Profinet, TIA Portal integration and built-in safety and cybersecurity functions for a wide range of industrial drive applications.
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RUD Ketten’s Tecdos Omega Drive chain drives are powering the specialised cutting assembly used to refurbish the 1,4 km Elleringhausen Tunnel in Germany, combining linear and radial motion in a configuration that performs reliably under constant wet-cutting conditions.
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Motion Control & Drives
WEBER-HYDRAULIK has expanded its manufacturing capabilities to produce hydraulic cylinders with internal diameters of up to 300?mm, extending its portfolio into large-dimension ballast and support cylinders for demanding heavy machinery applications.
Read more...High-performance linear guides igus
Motion Control & Drives
igus continues to expand its drylin range of lubrication-free polymer linear guides, including PFAS-free and EHEDG-certified variants for food safety applications. The tribo-optimised iglidur polymer technology eliminates maintenance while offering corrosion resistance and load capacity up to 600 kg.
Read more...New motion platform for tube laser processing
Motion Control & Drives
Aerotech has announced the LaserTurn280, a motion platform for laser machining of cylindrical medical device components, offering calibrated accuracy of plus or minus 1 micrometre and designed for integration into high-volume production lines.
Read more...Functional safety in modern factory automation
Motion Control & Drives
Functional safety in modern factory automation allows machines to operate at controlled speeds or hold axes at standstill rather than shutting down entirely. Kollmorgen’s Safe Motion monitor software now supports additional safety-rated encoder protocols, extending these capabilities to precision and linear motion applications.
Read more...Improving material handling with autonomous mobile robots Rockwell Automation
Motion Control & Drives
Autonomous mobile robots offer flexible, AI-driven material handling that adapts to shifting demand, fills labour gaps, and generates the operational data needed to optimise end-to-end facility performance.
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