SKF Opens New Factory for Magnetic Bearings in Calgary

SKF Canada has opened a factory in Calgary for the production of magnetic bearing products. The 2,200 sq m facility houses Revolve Magnetic Bearings Inc. — SKF’s magnetic bearing production and product development company.

The new factory is equipped with production areas, application engineering and sales offices and positions the company to meet a growing demand for mechatronics (mechanical/electronic) solutions in rotating equipment.

SKF offers magnetic bearing products as standard parts, customized design or as a “total shaft solution.” Part of the product line includes Hyperspin spindles, which are magnetic bearings that range in power from 300 W to 55 kW and motor speeds from 30,000 rpm to 80,000 rpm.

“Hyperspin spindles allow us to build unique customer-focused products with standard parts,” says Mark Roberts, managing director of SKF Magnetic Bearings. “We are able to build advanced equipment with reasonable cost and delivery time.”

Magnetic bearings are particularly appropriate for equipment within the semiconductor-fabrication and turbo-machinery industries. SKF has developed magnetic bearing products for processing semiconductor wafers, high-speed hydrogen compressors, natural gas compressors and others.

SKF’s Revolve website offers information on magnetic bearing applications at www.revolve.com.