SKF provides efficient technology for agriculture

SKF is offering a range of technology that can be applied in the agriculture industry to increase productivity, lower operational costs and deliver sustainability benefits.

The technology is typically aimed at extending machine component service life and reducing maintenance, both of which contribute to less stoppages, more reliability and more machine availability.

All of this results in longer operational hours for tractors, combines and attachments in the agriculture industries.

Emphasis is also put on designing solutions with minimal lubrication needs.

Where needed, the use of automatic centralised lubrication systems provide accurate and timely lubrication to all key rotating, sliding and oscillating positions on the vehicles and equipment.

This reduces the use of lubricants, reduces component wear and reduces ground contamination from oil and grease, thus contributing to environmental care and sustainability.

The SKF Agri Hub is one example of these products, which is used in rotary discs for land tilling.

SKF field trials of the Agri Hub indicate an increase in productivity of up to 150 per cent and a reduction of the total cost of ownership by up to 30 per cent.

Furthermore, it is lubricated and sealed for life, saving an estimated 500kg of grease per machine over 10 years, which could leak from conventional designs.

It is reliable for an estimated 10 farming seasons and is relubrication- and pollution-free and easy to install.

The Agri Hub is a single unit, replacing traditionally up to 15 separate components and is expected to reduce OEM costs in management and overhead by up to 90 per cent.

The SKF self-lubricating axial spherical TX plain bearing and a specially developed seal virtually eliminate the need for maintenance for front steering applications in a tractor.

The unit also provides increased load carrying and extended service life.

There is no need for standstills for relubrication and the risk of bearing failures due to improper, or lack of, lubrication is virtually eliminated.

It is also environmentally friendly; there is no grease leakage and thus contamination of land is avoided.

Operating in temperatures from -20 to +50C, it is designed for 300,000 operating cycles in an environment of straw, stones, fertilisers, mud and high-pressure water cleaning.

Global positioning systems (GPS) are widely used in the agriculture industry, saving time and up to 10 per cent fuel due to no more overlapping by harvesters.

SKF provides sensors in the steering column of a tractor that are coupled to the GPS.

This enables the farmer to drive to a starting position and then engage the GPS control for automatic steering while mowing.

If the farmer sees obstacles in his path, or needs to turn at the end of the field, he simply turns the steering wheel.

This disengages the GPS steering and puts the farmer back in control.

When the obstacle is avoided, or the turn is made, the farmer can re-activate the GPS for the next part of the mowing process.

Continuous variable transmissions (CVT) are used today in many tractors.

Although there are many advantages of CVT, especially when mowing, one main issue of this technology is that the traditional mechanical brake in emergency situations, like mowing downhill, can sometimes be no longer fully effective.

If the tractor loses power there is no engine brake possible and the forces involved can be too high for a farmer to apply a hand operated mechanical brake.

SKF has developed an electromechanical actuation system that can get power from the battery and provide an effective emergency brake function in all critical conditions for the farmer.

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