SKF is a leading global supplier in the areas of bearings, seals, mechatronics, services and lubrication systems. The group’s service offer includes technical support, maintenance services, engineering consultancy and training. The company’s knowledge of linear driving and guiding functions has established SKF as an engineering name in the medical and healthcare industry.
SKF is represented in more than 130 countries and has 15,000 distributor locations worldwide. The group’s annual sales for 2008 were SEK 63,361 million. The number of employees is around 42,000.
Medical and healthcare expertise supports mechatronic functions
A focus on quality and reliability, coupled with supporting and monitoring services, can put a device manufacturer at the forefront of its industry. With a deep knowledge of the medical industry, SKF has developed a unique range of products and services. Our advanced actuation and guiding systems, bearings and seals, etc., are all manufactured to meet the industry’s requirements and to comply with all specifications and regulations of the medical industry, such as EN and UL approvals.
Technology shift to sensorised electronic actuation
Integrating mechanical, electronic and information technologies to high level functions, SKF cooperates with customers to design a new generation of smart products. Employing sensor-equipped bearings or sensorised linear actuators and mechatronic slides enables designers to substitute traditional hydraulic systems, thereby simplifying design and minimising environmental impact.
SKF has solutions for a wide range of medical applications such as:
- Diagnostic imaging and therapy
- Surgical and ophthalmic tables and chairs
- Hospital and home-care beds
- Patient lifters and stretchers
- Infant incubators and other life-supporting systems
- Laboratory automation and liquid handling
- Dental equipment and tools
Electrical linear actuators and telescopic pillars
SKF is a leading company in electrically driven linear actuation and telescopic pillar systems and motion systems. This includes pillars with integrated guidance systems, AC and DC actuators, control boxes, and hand and foot switches. SKF also offers actuator monitoring systems to continuously track actuator status during operation. The system warns the user when an actuator needs to be replaced.
Linear guides and complete guidance systems
SKF offers a wide range of linear guides. Shaft guides, profile rail guides and precision rail guides are included as well as precision slides with plug-and-play solutions and complete guidance systems. Several of these products can be supplied in corrosion-resistant stainless steel.
Ball screws, roller screws and ground ball screws
Applications that transform rotary action into linear motion require components such as ball and roller screws and ground ball screws. SKF’s range covers nearly all needs as far as speed and precision are concerned. For applications that require corrosion-resistant components, SKF offers ball screws in stainless steel or with coatings.
Ball bearings, roller bearings and seals
SKF ball and roller bearings are used in a number of medical applications and are available in many variants and sizes, from large to medium-size slewing bearings to small track rollers. SKF also manufactures seals in materials that are compatible with a large variety of fluids.
Condition-monitoring hardware and software
SKF Reliability Systems provides an extensive array of asset-efficiency products and services, from condition-monitoring hardware and software to maintenance strategies, engineering assistance and machine reliability programs.
Engineering consultancy services
SKF’s Engineering Consultancy Services offers a competitive way for customers to decrease time to market for new products. SKF’s well-proven processes enable design optimisation and verification.
SKF’s experience with medical standards, such as 60601-1 for product certification, ISO 13485 and CFR820 guidelines for quality systems, enables us to create tailored solutions for the benefit of the medical industry.