Page 26 - MMI-SeptOct2021 SM upload

our rotating equipment perfor- SKF hybrid Deep Groove Ball
mance (REP) model, we aim to Bearings (DGBB), for example,
enable growth and innovation use ceramic rolling elements
and meet the changing needs and steel rings. Bearings of this
of customers. Through REP, we type offer improved high-speed
leverage our product and en- performance and best-in-class
gineering expertise with our electrical insulation characteris-
deep understanding of rotating tics, making them the premium
equipment to provide a solution choice for high performance
to the customer to maximize EV powertrains. In addition,
their machine uptime and in- SKF is also developing applica-
crease reliability. tion specific solutions to mit-
igate risk of current leakage
Coming to the Auto industry, at system level and to protect
there has been a significant the entire EV transmission.
slowdown in Commercial
Vehicles (CVs). How has that Source: SKF India Ltd SKF India has come up
impacted SKF India and when do with its Online Store, which
The agricul- you see the segment’s recovery “One of the key learnings from understandably is in keeping
ture linked happening? Which are the other COVID-19 is that to overcome with the current times. How
products, segments that you cater to that such occurrences, industries must has the response been so far
like tractors, can backfill the CV lag? invest in digital factories and au- since the practice of ordering
are doing Currently for our Automotive tomation. The pandemic also ex- automotive parts online is new
very well business, which accounts for posed the Manufacturing sector’s in India?
fragility brought in by over-de-
for the last 55 percent of the SKF India's to- pendence on select geographies As COVID-19 and the related
two-three for the supply chain.”
quarters. A tal business, we are focused on Manish Bhatnagar changes in business and custom-
lot of buying gaining share. This is because, Managing Director er buying patterns have acceler-
is happen- for us, Automotive is not just SKF India Ltd ated the need for digital trans-
ing in the one sector. So, the agriculture formation, we have launched
two-wheel- linked products, like tractors, emarketplace - an online store
ers. New are doing very well for the Electrification is a strong trend offering Automotive and Indus-
models last two-three quarters. A lot in the Automotive industry trial business products for retail
are being of buying is happening in the driven by battery technology and industrial buyers.
launched in two-wheelers. When it comes development and the multiple The 24x7 online store aims to
passenger to passenger vehicles (PVs), new benefits that electric vehicles provide direct access to genuine
vehicles, models are being launched, can bring to societies, for exam- SKF products ranging from Bear-
which did
not happen which did not happen in 2020. ple, energy security, improved ings and Bearing Units, Housing
in 2020. Passenger vehicles are a very urban air quality, and noise mit- and Accessories, Greases, and
special category where demand igation. The growing market of other maintenance products, for
and sales are dependent main- electric and connected vehicles both Industrial and Automotive
ly on new model launches and will positively impact our auto- segments. All the process indus-
we are seeing that a lot of mod- motive business as the bearings tries, MSMEs, traders, retailers,
els are being launched and the play an important role in their automotive aftermarket retail-
buying has started. The slow- applications. At SKF, we are in- ers, mechanics and fleet own-
down in the commercial vehi- vesting in new technological ers will benefit from this wide
cles segment began long before developments and adapting or range of products and solutions.
COVID-19 and nothing has redesigning conventional bear- Currently, we are enabling in-
changed. In summary, agricul- ings. Overall, we have a portfo- frastructure - warehousing and
ture is doing well, passenger ve- lio of innovative solutions that last-mile delivery, to enable our
hicles should do well hereafter enable a robust and efficient customers, be it our channel
and two-wheelers will continue E-powertrain drive. Many lead- partners or end users, to con-
to do well. ing OEMs in Asia, Europe and nect with us through the digital
North America alike are trust- medium and order directly on
The popularity of EVs is again ing SKF bearings and solutions the internet. So far, the demand
picking up. How do you plan to as part of their electric drive- has been fantastic. In total, we
cater to the segment? train design. have over 1,000 product offer-

26 | September-October 2021 Modern Manufacturing India