Bearings manufacturer and distributor SKF South Africa intends to promote its continuous drive towards reliability improvements and a circular economy to attendees of this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba.

The company, through its quality products, large authorised distribution footprint, reliability-focused solutions and implementation of a circular economy centre at its head office in Johannesburg, is creating an efficient supply chain ecosystem with distributors and end-users, says SKF South Africa industrial distribution and regional sales manager Saien Rugdeo.

The company will also showcase a range of its mining and industrial product offerings at the Indaba.

Rugdeo stresses that embracing the concept of reliability and a circular economy is a big drive for SKF, not only regionally, but also globally, and that mining has been, and always will be, one of SKF’s main key account segments globally.

In creating awareness about remanufacturing, predictive maintenance and asset management through various programmes, such as its Customer Needs Analysis and Stock Inventory Management Optimisation, SKF South Africa can assist mines in Southern Africa as well as Africa as a whole, in streamlining supply chains.

These programmes can also assist clients in procuring the most suitable products for their specific applications.

“Enlightening our customers on SKF’s intelligent solutions, such as the smart Quick Collect sensors, will also be on the agenda for the Indaba.

Skills Drive

SKF’s corporate social responsibility is pursued by approaching local communities and educational institutions to establish training programmes aimed at developing localised talent by equipping them with the skills required for modern mining practices with respect to reliability of rotating equipment found in an African mining context.

“Supporting continuous training and skills development in mining will assist in creating a workforce capable of adapting to technology advancements and ensuring best practices can be implemented,” Rugdeo enthuses.

“As a global company, we are committed to conserving our environment and ensuring diversity in the workplace; therefore, we will always strive for better applications to reduce our carbon footprint and assist our partners in doing the same,” he adds.

Why the Indaba

The African mining landscape comprises diverse challenges, from procurement and local host suppliers, to online platforms, with items such as maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) work not always regarded as a top priority, says Rugdeo.

SKF ensures that premium technical support and supply are done through the right channels – including understanding the mine’s vision and alignment therewith – to ensure MRO work is prioritised.

“SKF is committed to supporting the charters provided and would like to be seen as a committed partner in the supply chain and value-add products criteria,” Rugdeo concludes.