Research and development offensive of SKF
Just after opening its Global Technical Centers in China (Fig.) and India, the technology leader SKF started planning the opening of the next one in the US. Two other centres are being built in Holland and Sweden. SKF strengthens its commitment regarding research and development on the North American continent. The company plans to set up a new research and development facility of 12 100 m² in the metropolitan region of Chicago. The “Global Technical Center Americas” (GTCA) underlines the strategy of SKF of establishing these centres in the vicinity of important customers. Thus, the company pursues the aim of focussing on market-specific product innovations by means of its five competence platforms (bearings and bearing units, seals, mechatronics components, lubrication systems and services).
At first SKF will invest about 30 million US$ and employ about 80 engineers in phase 1, which is to be finished within four years. In the long run, up to 200 employees are to be given jobs. The construction work will begin in autumn, and the business activities are to be started at the end of 2015. The first employment campaign for engineers and technical experts will already be started in September 2014.
