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Mr Tom Johnstone

Our Bureau

Pune, Nov. 3

The Asia-Pacific is a high growth region for Swedish bearings maker SKF, which has appointed Mr Rakesh Makhija, at present Managing Director, SKF India, to oversee business opportunities in the geographic area. He will be based in Shanghai.

“The Asia-Pacific region contributed 19 per cent of the group’s global revenue in 2008, replacing North America as the second largest revenue generator after Western Europe,” Mr Tom Johnstone, President and CEO, SKF AB, said. “We see Asia will grow both in sales and development,” he said.

Globally, SKF saw its manufacturing down 34 per cent and sales down 27 per cent year-on-year at the end of 2008, Mr Johnstone said, adding that the situation appeared to be improving. “It will stabilise, but at a whole new level as compared to what it was two years ago,” he remarked.

SKF has invested Rs 450 crore in India in setting up two new manufacturing facilities in Ahmedabad and Haridwar. Production of large bearings for the railways has begun at Ahmedabad, and wind energy sector is expected to drive further growth here.

“We had put the brakes on the Haridwar plant, but pushed the go button at the end of last year. Production will begin here by January-end,” Mr Johnstone said. The company has an agreement with Hero Honda to supply bearings for a 5-year period.

When fully operational, the two new facilities will jointly provide employment to 600 people. Though serving the domestic market will be a priority, exports may also be possible at a later date, he added.

The company inaugurated its seventh SKF Solutions factory worldwide, and the first in India, today. Located on the premises of its Pune factory, the new facility will give customers access to SKF’s technical competencies, specialist competencies, process know how in various sectors and capabilities all under one roof.

To begin with, the Solutions Factory is launching a spindle servicing centre and remanufacturing of (large) bearings, in addition to offering sealing and lubrication services.

“The plan is to establish ten of these factories during 2009, and 30-40 in the next couple of years,” Mr Johnstone said.

Mr Sudhir Rege, head of service business, SKF India, said, “The Solutions Factory allows us to offer more than just products in a box. We can also help customers cut operational costs and improve efficiency and productivity.”

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