SKF says it will build a new 12,100 m2 (130,000 sq ft) facility in the greater Chicago area.
The Global Technical Center Americas (GTCA), will use all of SKF’s five platforms; bearings, seals, mechatronics, lubrication systems and services.
It joins two centres recently opened in China and India, while the two new European bases are under construction, one in Holland and one in Sweden.
“One of SKF’s driving forces is to continue to deliver research and innovation and to develop products which deliver significant energy savings for our customers,” said SKF president and CEO, Tom Johnstone.
“This newest centre will strengthen our global network of technical centres that support each of our key regions. The Naperville, Illinois-based R&D centre will complement our existing technical centre in Plymouth, MI and help drive our growth ambitions for the US market.
“Over the past five years investments of over US$2.5bn (SEK17bn) have been made by SKF in the US both by building new facilities and the acquisition of the lubrication company Lincoln Industrial and most recently Kaydon Corporation.”

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