SKF expands its business with Chinese trailer parts manufacturer Fuwa

In addition to a contract for seals awarded end of 2008, SKF has won a new contract for the supply of tapered roller bearings to Fuwa. The contract is valid for 3 years and is worth up to 4.5 million USD per year.

Fuwa supplies trailer axles to both Chinese and international manufacturers. As Fuwa's export business has grown, the interest for higher performance bearings has increased. These tapered roller bearings will be used for trailer axles for export to markets with higher performance demands.

Mr Zhiqiang Wu, Chairman, Fuwa, says: "SKF can truly support us on a global basis for our new product development such as steer axles. Fuwa feels to be in very good hands in cooperating with SKF developing our global expansion."

Tryggve Sthen, President, SKF Automotive Division, says: "I am very pleased that SKF is being awarded yet another contract from Fuwa. By combining our expertise in bearings and sealing solutions as a knowledge engineering company, we provide the necessary means to support our customers in their business."

Guangdong Fuwa Engineering Manufacturing Co Ltd is the largest trailer axle manufacturer in the world, headquartered in Shunde city, Guangdong Province, China.

Göteborg, 31 March 2009
Aktiebolaget SKF
(publ)AB

SKF may be required to disclose the information provided herein according to the Securities Markets Act and/or the Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication at 11.00 am on 31 March 2009.

For further information, please contact:
PRESS: Ingalill Östman, SKF Group Communication, tel: +46 31-337 3260, mobile:
+46 706-973260, e-mail: ingalill.ostman@skf.com
IR: Marita Björk, SKF Investor Relations, tel: +46 31-337 1994, mobile: +46 705-181994,
e-mail: marita.bjork@skf.com

China Bearing Industry 2008 analysis report

According to 115 China bearing enterprises (101 participation in the statistics) , from January to December, 2008 accumulated completes the gross value of industrial output (the same year price) 39,903,200,000 Yuan, the same ratio grew 15.65%; The industry sale output value 39,375,300,000 Yuan, the same ratio grows 13.10%; The industry increase in value 10,262,700,000 Yuan, the same ratio grows 9.55%.

From January to December, 2008, 101 bearing enterprises total produce the bearing 2,630,500,000 sets, compared the same time last year to reduce 43.9 million sets, the same ratio reduced 1.64%; The bearing sales volume is 2,734,000,000 sets, compared the same time last year to reduce 75.5 million sets; The same ratio reduces 2.69%; The bearing volume of exports is 1,235,000,000 sets, compared the same time last year to reduce 269,600,000 sets; The same ratio reduces 17.92%; The bearing storehouse amount on deposit by the same time last year 3,732,000,000 Yuan increase to 4,467,000,000 Yuan, grew 19.72%.

From January to December, 2008, 101 enterprise accumulations completes the host camp service to receive 44,390,000,000 Yuan, compared the same time last year to grow 15.61%; Bearing product service income is 31,210,000,000 Yuan, the same ratio grows 11.42%; Exports income in the bearing product service is 7,630,000,000 Yuan, the same ratio grows 11.06%; The realization profit total amount 2.71 billion Yuan, compared the same time last year to grow 4.44%. The realization tax money total amount 1,010,000,000 Yuan, compared the same time last year to grow 4.17%.

The profit total amount compares the enterprise which the same time last year grew is 38, occupied 101 enterprises 37.62%; The profit total amount compares the enterprise which the same time last year dropped is 56, occupied 101 enterprises 55.45%; Impartial 8 enterprises.

According to the industry main enterprise monthly report might compared to the caliber statistics, to 2008 year's end, the industry main business owner camp service income and the bearing product service income respectively grew compared to the same time last year 15.61% and 11.42% (January to June with compares growth be 26.46% and 20.96%), but the same month completed compares the same time last year respectively to reduce the second 29.63% and 23.43% (January to June grows is 22.98% and 13.96%), respectively reduced 17.9% on a month-on-month basis and 6.81% (on January to June basis ratio is - 1.13% and - 8.11%), the development assumed glides down the situation.

Looking from the export product income that, to 2008 year's end, the industry main enterprise exported the bearing product income to grow 11.06% compared to the same time last year (January to June rate of increment is 16.37%), but the same month completed compares the same time last year to reduce 29.94% (January to June rate of increment is 19.67%), reduced 29.69% on a month-on-month basis (January to June rate of increment is 2.9%). Explained the bearing exportation is reduced , the development also assumes glides down the situation.With exports the tendency from the exportation quantity compared to the reduction which the bearing product income grows we to be possible to see, the exportation first is blocked is the low-grade bearing product and the small forming roll receives the product, exports the bearing product the structure to adjust imperative.

Looking from the profit situation that, accumulated same time last year grew with comparison 4.44% (January to June rate of increment is 18.16%), but the same month completed with compared to compared to respectively reduced 70.3% with the 5.15% on a month-on-month basis (January to June rate of increment respectively is 61.64% and 11.04%), the benefit assumed glides down seriously the tendency.

In summary, in 2008 the bearing industry main enterprises has held the global economy development later period opportunity in the first half year, maintained the high rate of rise, only then guaranteed the whole year to complete compared to the same time last year rate of rise, but the global economic crisis influence, is started from the second half year, the industry main enterprises four big target development assumed glide down gradually the situation, the situation are unoptimistic. Therefore, the industry main enterprise should in “the danger” the time, the firm confidence, seek “the opportunity”, speeds up the adjustment product mix the step, comprehensive should to and defeats the impact which the international finance machine brings, maintains the industry steady healthy development.

PTC help Changjiang Bearing achievements "product first"

March 24, 2009, PTC today announced that Chongqing Changjiang Bearing Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to Changjiang Bearing) to choose from, including Pro / ENGINEER, WindchillPDMLink, ProjectLink and Mathcad and PTC ® Product Development System (PDS), to optimize the product development process and greatly improved bearing design and intelligent management of collaborative R & D in new product development cycles shorten at the same time improve the quality of product delivery.

Bearings are widely used machine-building industry, demanding documents and supporting basic pieces, known as the mechanical joints. Bearing structure is simple and complex, it is not only necessary to consider the R & D materials, manufacturing process and application conditions, but also involves the calculation and analysis of large-scale. Most of the current bearing industry 2DCAD traditional design method, based on the calculation of Excel, as well as the structure of pure 3D tool design and analysis, and bearing the design of a simple R & D system, so the prevalence of domestic bearings industry low R & D and innovation, product reliability and life cannot meet the technical requirements, such as the current problem, but also so that the lower production capacity, production scale effect cannot be reached.

Chongqing Changjiang Bearing Co., Ltd. was founded in 1992, after ten years of development, has built a six in the country's manufacturing base, with the annual production capacity of 1 million sets of bearings and auto parts capacity. The company's own brand “CJB” bearings are widely used in automobiles, motorcycles, construction machinery and many other industries. Changjiang Bearing has been committed to become a world-class Bearing manufacturing base, it is precisely for this reason, Changjiang Bearing an urgent need for a standardized, industry research and development characteristics of the product management system to improve efficiency and quality of product development. After a thorough study and analysis, Changjiang Bearing finally select the deployment of the PTC Product Development System.

The implementation of the PTC product development system includes an integrated 3D parametric solution Pro / ENGINEER, it provides a comprehensive structural design function; Mathcad engineering calculation software can easily cope with a large number of complex projects, the implementation of automation between the two drivers model can accurately verify the design. In addition, WindchillPDMLink and ProjectLink provide Web-based management platform for collaborative design effective drawing management, automatic update BOM and 2D drawings for the follow-up project to provide a single data source, and implementation process management, process planning and information sharing.

“Through the application of PTC's Product Development System, we set up the enterprise data sources a single product so that all R & D personnel in accordance with the same set of standards for system development work to enhance the standardization of the level of the enterprise, significantly improved the quality of project delivery.” Chongqing Changjiang Bearing Shares Cui Ltd. said, “Model-driven automation to further validate the design, greatly reducing the design error, by improving the design efficiency and quality of design, innovation and speed up the Changjiang Bearing goal to reach.”
BI Pu Beijing Innovation Technology Co., Ltd. (BPLead) Project Director beneficial Xu said: “We are much honored to have the opportunity and Chongqing Changjiang Bearing Co., Ltd. to ensure the smooth implementation of the project and the successful on-line. The gold medal as a PTC and Windchill agents preferred service provider, we will, as always, to provide customers with the localization of the most professional services and support to meet the needs of customers. “
“PTC's comprehensive Product Development System build a strong design, manufacturing processes and to effectively connect and greatly improve the efficiency of product development and shorten the development cycle of new products.” PTC Asia-Pacific vice president of channel sales John Condon said, “PTC is committed to helping Chongqing Changjiang Bearing Co., Ltd., as such customers, the use of PTC Product Development System to achieve the vision of enterprise development.”

Schaeffler Group Opened Harbin office in China

Schaeffler Group opened Harbin office on Mar 20, 2009. As Schaeffler's sixteenth sales office China, the establishment of Harbin office shows Schaeffler's great confidence in China's operation.

The Harbin office will be mainly in charge of the sales of industrial bearings for railway, machine tool, heavy machinery and winder power industries in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces.

Gou Jianhui, the president of Schaeffler Group China division attended the opening ceremony and expressed his great contribution to the establishment of the new office.

Hailin Zhongke Ranked No.1 in the Industry for its Tapered Roller Bearings both in Output and Exports

Hailin Zhongke Technology Co., Ltd was recently reported to be No.1 in the bearing industry for its leading products tapered roller bearings in the annual output and the export capacity for the year of 2008, with the output of 42.19 million pieces and the export amount of 29.75096 million pieces, an increase of 24.42 percent and 24.02 percent than those of the previous year 2007 respectively.

The 2007 output and export capacity were 33.9091 million sets and 23.9886 million.

Regarding the exports of its taper roller bearings, Hailin Zhongke was said to appear in the first place in the industry about the same kind products for the four consecutive years.

Source:CBCC

WGYS Acquired a Facility of One Petroleum Machinery Bearing Manufacturing Company

Wafangdian Guangyang Bearing Group (WGYS) successfully acquired a facility of one petroleum machinery bearing manufacturing company through the negotiation between both parties recently.

WGYS has been paying great attention to the expansion of the production and the improvement of its manufacturing capacity & products quality besides the effort for the production environment.

This acquisition was regarded as a new starting point for WGYS to speed up the reform of its product technologies and expand the production & sales scale.

Wafangdian Guangyang Bearing Group is one of the largest producers of bearings in Wafangdian, as well as a major modern manufacturer for large and middle scale bearings. It's also served as one of the domestic R&D bases with advanced technology.
Source: CBCC

New energy-efficient bearing lines launched

New spherical and cylindrical roller bearings have been developed that meet the stringent SKF energy-efficient performance class criteria, says Tom Johnstone, SKF Group CEO and president. "Extensive testing results verify significant friction reduction compared to SKF standard bearings," he reports.

SKF energy-efficient spherical roller bearings exhibit at least 30% less friction and corresponding reduced energy consumption, considerably lower bearing temperature, extended grease life and extended relubrication intervals, according to the company. Five sizes of open bearings are the first to be introduced for industrial ventilation fan applications as part of the total SKF energy-efficient solution for fans. Additional sizes will be offered based on customer demand.

The first SKF energy efficient cylindrical roller bearings to be introduced are of the NJ series, which are designed to handle axial loads in one direction. Compared to the current SKF standard NJ series bearing, the new SKF energy-efficient cylindrical roller bearings exhibit a friction reduction of at least 30% in axial loaded applications and have a higher dynamic load rating. These new ultra-low friction bearings are intended for a wide range of applications, initially for industrial and wind energy transmissions.

The SKF energy-efficient spherical and cylindrical roller bearings are the latest in the company's energy-efficient performance class of rolling bearings. Manufacturing will be initiated during the second quarter 2009.

In 2008, in connection with the 100-year anniversary of SKF, the company introduced the energy-efficient single row deep groove ball bearing and the energy-efficient tapered roller bearing. The ranges in these two bearing types continue to expand as customer demand is increasing.

"We will continue to develop our energy efficient range of bearings as it is fundamental to our commitment to develop integrated energy efficient solutions based on our engineering knowledge in our five platforms," Johnstone notes.

For more information, visit SKF Canada at www.skf.ca.