SKF upgrades Dubai-based GCC office

SKF, the Swedish bearings manufacturer, has gone in for a major upgrade of its Dubai office, which handles the GCC markets.

The expansion has seen it invest in new personnel to be part of the regional team, plus a 'Reliability Maintenance Institute' to improve the maintenance skills of key client personnel.

SKF recorded revenues of $4 billion last year and has a global share of 40 per cent in the bearings market. Its regional share is estimated to be around the same.

"As part of SKF's group policy, there is an emphasis on adding value to our products by being a total solutions company," said Ali Karademir, regional director for Middle East and North Africa. "As part of this, it is our intention to offer plant-wide integrated services for our clients."

SKF's GCC operations have been recording a steady five per cent growth in the last four years or so. For next year, projections are that this will be bettered.

The heightened expectations are based on the fact that the region's hydrocarbon processing sector (HPI) is witnessing a great deal of project activity.

"The hydrocarbon processing industry has been one of our focus areas in the last few years, and that strategy has paid off," said Karademir. "Today, it represents one of the biggest components of our regional turnover."

Apart from HPI, SKF has its traditional strengths in steel, cement and paper and pulp.

Officials confirmed there has been no change in its distribution network for these markets. There are also no plans to bring markets such as Egypt and Iran within the scope of the Dubai office.

Both key markets are handled through direct operations.