SKF, VBN Collaborate on Additive Manufacturing of Large-Size Bearings

SKF and VBN Components have been collaborating for several years on the additive manufacturing (AM) of hard, wear-resistant steels with enhanced fatigue properties. As a next step, the companies are planning a joint project with the potential application of this technology on large-size bearings.

VBN is said to provide unique alloys for AM, sold under the brand name Vibenite. The cooperation has mainly been focused within aerospace and racing where it is said AM has offered several advantages, including less complex and time-consuming manufacturing solutions, as well as environmental benefits.

In the potential application of this technology on large-size bearings, lighter weight components have the potential to improve performance under demanding conditions and could enable further weight optimization of machinery, the companies say.

The use of the Vibenite materials in the components developed by VBN and SKF is expected to enable environmental benefits. Because AM makes it easy to produce components from very hard materials, it is said that material consumption can, in specific applications, be reduced by 80-90%.

The companies say the materials may also have the potential to enable improvements for many other applications. VBN says it has customers that have increased the lifetime of components by more than 10 times, resulting in a significantly reduced CO₂ footprint. In collaboration with SKF, it is said Vibenite materials have been shown to provide very good rolling fatigue resistance due to their purity, hardness and fine microstructure.

“At SKF, we are constantly striving to improve the performance of our bearings, and VBN’s solutions and material are contributing to this, says Victoria Van Camp, president, SKF technology development. “Our cooperation also brings large sustainability benefits. This means that our customers get better products with lower environmental impact.”

This focus on continuous improvement is said to benefit both companies. “SKF’s focus on continuously improving their products has given us the opportunity to test our Vibenite materials in very demanding applications,” says Johan Bäckström, VBN Components CEO. “We are truly pleased to finally make this announcement after several years of successful cooperation.”