Swedish bearing and seal manufacturer SKF has selected Australian conveyor components manufacturer PROK for a long-term strategic supply partnership.

The contract covers deep groove ball bearings for PROK’s conveyor idler units, Explorer Class spherical roller bearings in sealed and non-sealed versions, as well as various sleeves and housings for PROKs conveyor pulley offering.

The program bringing these two companies together is part of the new SKF equipped Programme and is the first time an Australian company has entered into the programme.

SKF has supplied PROK for over forty years, and according to a statement from SKF, the components were chosen by PROK for their performance over this time. The components have been utilised and proven in quarrying, mining, steel and other heavy industrial applications.

PROK’s components are part of the NEPEAN Conveyors group, and the company supplies local and international customers with highly durable, heavy-duty conveyor components.

PROK’s products are utilised in the mining and heavy bulk materials handling industries, as well as mines, ports, and large industrial plants in Asia Pacific and the Americas.

“The newly launched SKF Equipped Programme that we have just established with our client PROK, is the first of its kind for SKF in Australia. It’s testament to the long and successful relationship that we have enjoyed over the past 40 years with this leading Australian conveyor OEM. We look forward to a continuing engineering partnership with PROK as the company progresses its highly successful product development programme,” said Vis Reddy, industrial business development manager at SKF Australia.

The local subsidiary of SKF, SKF Australia, has operated in Australia since 1940. The bearing and machine component supplier serves industries including petroleum and gas, hydrocarbon processing, mining and minerals, wind energy, food and beverage, agriculture, rail, OEM and general manufacturing. In 2013, the company opened its SKF Solution Factory in Perth to better serve the local market.