Motion Control & Drives


Decarbonising bearing production

Technews Industry Guide: Sustainable Manufacturing 2024 Motion Control & Drives

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.


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