SKF decarbonises production using Austrian and Swiss Steel
European roller bearings producer SKF and voestalpine Wire Technology have produced the first prototype bearing made from steel that contains hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (H-DRI).
SKF and voestalpine have been working together since 2022 to explore the possibilities of using H-DRI steel for bearing applications, Kallanish hears from the Sweden-based company. The spherical roller bearing prototype was handed over to voestalpine Wire Technology at SKF’s factory in Steyr, Austria. Spherical roller bearings can be used in many different applications and industries, such as marine, pulp and paper production, mining and construction.
“Steel is a critical raw material in bearings, and to achieve the change and speed needed in decarbonising bearing production, the whole industry must come together,” says SKF chief technology officer Annika Ölme.
SKF recently announced it also started sourcing low-carbon steel from Swiss Steel. Since the beginning of the year, Swiss Steel has been delivering its GreenSteel Climate+ brand made at German unit Deutsche Edelstahlwerke (DEW) exclusively to SKF.
Christian Koehl Germany
