SKF will focus on extending maintenance intervals at the InnoTrans fair in Berlin this September, reflecting this year's theme: ‘Go further, with confidence - Extend maintenance intervals with SKF technology.'



Gothenburg, Sweden, 29 June 2018: At this year's InnoTrans fair, SKF focuses on developments in digitalisation and maintenance interval extension. By applying SKF’s industry insight, technology and specialist services, SKF can help rail operators drive smarter, more efficient practices right across the maintenance lifecycle. 



Railway operators require highly reliable wheel bearings with long maintenance intervals. With this in mind, SKF’s Passenger bearing 1,7 Mkm Tapered Bearing Unit product, that offers lower bogie maintenance frequency through harmonisation of wheel and bearing maintenance intervals, is on show. Alongside it is the new Cylindrical Roller Bearing Unit version for wheelend applications. 



Hybrid and Insocoat solutions for drive system applications are also on stand. In SKF’s hybrid bearings, the traditional steel rolling elements are replaced with elements made of ceramics enabling them to run cooler than conventional bearings, thanks to their lower friction. This has a profound effect on bearing life because it ensures that lubricant lasts longer. SKF’s specially treated Insocoat standard steel bearings have an insulated coating that gives an additional degree of resistance to stray electric currents. 



Breaking new ground in the industry for maintenance planning is SKF’s Insight Rail. This on board wireless condition monitoring system supports condition based maintenance practices (CBM). In conjunction with companies such as Siemens, it is helping to improve rolling stock maintenance processes and maintenance budgets for many rail opertors at present and in the future, as the boundaries of digitalization continue to be expanded. 



SKF’s Insight Rail relies on a small advanced wireless sensor (~350 g) retrofitted on the wheelset axlebox and the sensor detects bearing damage and wheel flats quickly and accurately. Visitors to the show can see for themselves how fast and simple the mounting of this solution is. 



Also on stand is SKF’s Baker AWA motor analysers, lubrication solutions and a range of remanufacturing offers. SKF’s fully-automated motor analysers perform repeatable, user-programmable tests to thoroughly assess the strength of a motor’s insulation and circuit. The analysers have been shown to reduce motor ground relay faults by 15% and phase module (VFD) replacement rates by nearly 40%. Also on stand is information concerning the most common bearing failure modes and how these can be avoided, as well as how the use of remanufacturing can offer cost control and improved bearing performance for many rail operators.