SKF Tech & Innovation Summit 2026

What are we going to experience on June 18 at the SKF yearly virtual Tech & Innovation Summit?

“Electrification, digitalization and the rapid growth of energy intensive infrastructure are
transforming industries. Customers are under increasing pressure to improve performance while
reducing energy use. Closing the energy efficiency gap by moving from energy-efficiency ambition
to measurable operational impact is crucial for sustainable growth.
We remain committed to helping customers minimize friction and transform their operations to
strengthen competitiveness and sustainability”, says Rickard Gustafson, President and CEO, SKF.

The Words of the SKF’ Chief Technology Officer

“Our products and solutions are developed to address the operational challenges customers face
every day – from thermal management in data centers to reliable performance under variable loads
in motors and mills. By combining deep application knowledge with advanced product development
and digital technologies, we help customers reduce energy losses, improve
reliability, simplify maintenance and unlock measurable efficiency gains in
their day-to-day operations”, says Annika Ölme, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President,
Technology Development, SKF.

SKF Magnetic bearing solutions for data centre cooling

High-speed motors with magnetic bearing technology for centrifugal chillers,
enabling friction-free and oil-free operation and fast restarts after power interruptions. Designed to
maximize energy efficiency and uptime in cooling systems that account for up to 30–40% of data
center energy use, with up to 12 dB noise reduction and supported by advanced software
based monitoring and diagnostics.

SKF Hybrid ceramic bearings for Industrial electric motors

A new optimized hybrid ceramic ball bearing supporting next-generation IE4 and IE5 electric motors
by eliminating electrical erosion, offering up to eight times longer grease life, lower friction and up
to 25% higher operating speeds than standard steel bearing.

SKF Condition monitoring – Aptitude Insight

A unified, scalable and cyber-secure platform on-premises, cloud or SKF SaaS that connects
operational and information technology environments. Aptitude Insight replaces multiple point
solutions with a single platform, embedding decades of SKF expertise into automated workflows
and enabling advanced diagnostics edge analytics and AI-ready insights.

SKF Circular solutions – Remanufacturing

Bearing remanufacturing that restores products to original geometrical specifications and full
performance while reducing carbon footprint and energy use by up to 90% compared to producing
new bearings. Remanufacturing shortens lead times, reduces material consumption and is backed
by SKF warranty and documented CO2 savings, supporting customers’ transition to circular
operations.

AI for the Pulp & Paper Industry — with SKF Product assistant

In the pulp and paper industry, speed and confidence matter. SKF’s AI-powered Product Assistant
helps engineers and maintenance teams quickly access trusted SKF knowledge about products and applications right when they need it. AI here is not about replacing deep
engineering expertise. It’s about removing everyday friction by answering questions instantly,
guiding product selection, and supporting reliable decisions in demanding operating environments.