Pune: SKF is set to host its annual virtual SKF Tech and Innovation Summit 2026, bringing together industry leaders and technology experts to showcase innovations, products, and solutions designed to help industries close the energy efficiency gap and improve operational performance.
Held under the theme ‘Closing the Energy Efficiency Gap’, the SKF Tech and Innovation Summit will feature tailored solutions focused on enhancing energy efficiency, reliability, and uptime across a range of industrial applications, including data centres, industrial electric motors, mining operations, pulp and paper manufacturing, and digitally enabled industrial environments.
Rickard Gustafson, President and CEO, SKF, said: “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.”
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The SKF Tech and Innovation Summit 2026 underscores the company’s commitment to solving real-world industrial challenges through application expertise and customer-focused innovation.
Annika Ölme, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President, Technology Development, SKF, said: “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.”
- Participants attending the SKF Tech and Innovation Summit on June 18 will gain insights into how SKF is helping industries improve efficiency, reliability, and sustainability through advanced technologies and digital innovation.
The event will be held across multiple regions:
- EMEA: 10 am CET
- India and Southeast Asia: 10 am IST
- Americas: 9 am PT / 12 pm ET
- China and Northeast Asia: 14:00 CST
A replay of the SKF Tech and Innovation Summit will be made available on SKF’s website following the conclusion of the event.
Technologies and Solutions Featured at SKF Tech and Innovation Summit 2026
SKF Magnetic Bearing Solutions for Data Centre Cooling
Among the innovations featured at the SKF Tech and Innovation Summit are high-speed motors equipped with magnetic bearing technology for centrifugal chillers. These systems enable friction-free and oil-free operation while ensuring rapid restarts following power interruptions.
Designed to improve energy efficiency and uptime in cooling systems—which can account for up to 30–40% of data centre energy consumption—the solution also offers noise reduction of up to 12 dB and incorporates advanced software-based monitoring and diagnostics capabilities.
SKF Hybrid Ceramic Bearings for Industrial Electric Motors
SKF will also showcase an optimized hybrid ceramic ball bearing designed for next-generation IE4 and IE5 electric motors.
The bearing eliminates electrical erosion while delivering up to eight times longer grease life, lower friction, and up to 25% higher operating speeds compared to conventional steel bearings. The solution supports more energy-efficient motor designs, a compact footprint, global availability, and cost savings.
SKF Condition Monitoring – Aptitude Insight
The SKF Tech and Innovation Summit will feature Aptitude Insight, SKF’s unified, scalable, and cyber-secure condition monitoring platform.
Available on-premises, in the cloud, or through SKF SaaS, the platform integrates operational technology and information technology environments. Aptitude Insight replaces multiple point solutions with a single platform, embedding SKF expertise into automated workflows while enabling advanced diagnostics, edge analytics, and AI-ready insights.
SKF Circular Solutions – Remanufacturing
SKF will highlight its bearing remanufacturing capabilities, which restore products to their original geometrical specifications and full performance levels.
The process can reduce carbon footprint and energy consumption by up to 90% compared with manufacturing new bearings. Additional benefits include shorter lead times, lower material consumption, SKF warranty coverage, and documented CO₂ savings, supporting customers’ transition toward circular business operations.
AI for the Pulp and Paper Industry with SKF Product Assistant
Artificial intelligence will also be a key focus at the SKF Tech and Innovation Summit through SKF’s AI-powered Product Assistant.
Designed for engineers and maintenance teams in the pulp and paper industry, the solution provides quick access to trusted SKF knowledge regarding products and applications. The tool assists users by answering questions instantly, guiding product selection, and supporting reliable decision-making in demanding operating environments.
According to SKF, the technology is designed not to replace engineering expertise but to reduce operational friction, improve productivity, enhance uptime, and support more sustainable industrial operations.
The SKF Tech and Innovation Summit 2026 will demonstrate how technology leadership, digital intelligence, and deep application expertise can help industries improve current performance while enabling a more energy-efficient and sustainable future.
