SKF India (Industrial) Limited, a provider of bearing solutions and rotating equipment services, has completed a significant phase of its localisation strategy, commissioning new manufacturing channels across India and Southeast Asia to enhance regional supply capability and reduce import dependence.
The company has established advanced production lines for medium deep-groove ball bearings (DGBBs) above 150 mm outer diameter in Ahmedabad, medium spherical roller bearings (SRBs) ranging from 180–320 mm in Nilai, Malaysia, and UC-range ball bearing units in Pune. These facilities now function as regional hubs designed to improve responsiveness, strengthen supply chain resilience, and embed the company more deeply in local industrial ecosystems.
All products are manufactured using the same global technology and quality standards as SKF’s European operations, enabling customers to access consistent performance and reliability closer to their operational bases.
“With new bearing manufacturing channels now operational in Ahmedabad, Pune, and Nilai, we’ve moved from intent to impact. Localisation is no longer a plan, it’s a reality,” said Mukund Vasudevan, President – India & Southeast Asia and Managing Director, SKF India (Industrial). “These capabilities allow us to align production with customer needs, bring advanced technologies closer to industrial hubs, and unlock efficiencies that drive long-term value.”
The company said localisation of these critical bearing types, which were previously imported, allows faster market response, shorter lead times, and greater supply reliability for key sectors such as railways, renewables, infrastructure, metals, cement, food and beverage, mining, and automation.
Building on this progress, SKF India (Industrial) plans to invest between INR 800 crore and INR 950 crore by 2030. The investment includes a new state-of-the-art facility in Pune, expected to be completed by 2028, aimed at expanding capacity, deepening technology integration, and advancing sustainability across its operations.
The region’s strategic importance was reaffirmed during a recent visit by Rickard Gustafson, President and Chief Executive Officer of SKF Group, who reviewed key sites and met employees to observe the company’s transformation efforts.
SKF’s broader transformation into a lean, clean, and digital manufacturing organisation is under way, integrating technologies such as artificial intelligence-based inspection systems, intelligent lubrication platforms, predictive maintenance tools, and circular economy-driven remanufacturing. Each of the new manufacturing channels is designed to embed efficiency, precision, and sustainability into production, supporting SKF’s goal of delivering smarter and more sustainable industrial solutions.
