SKF South Africa will demonstrate at the South African Railway Association (SARA) 2026 Expo how its full value chain – from advanced components to digital monitoring and lifecycle services – is driving a sustainable rail ecosystems on the African continent.
For more than a century, SKF has partnered with railway operators, rolling stock manufacturers, maintenance providers and infrastructure companies worldwide to enhance reliability, safety and operational performance. With a strong footprint across Africa and deep global railway expertise, SKF continues to drive the development and modernisation of rail networks through innovative technologies, engineering excellence, and comprehensive lifecycle services.
“We’re seeing powerful shifts across the rail industry,” says Mashadi Margaret Maseko – Railways Segment Manager-SKF Southern Africa. “Urbanisation is driving demand for greater train interconnectivity, while globalisation is increasing the need for local supply and certification. At the same time, ageing train fleets highlight the urgency of renewal, and the sector is steadily moving toward carbon‑neutral operations.” Rail transportation remains a critical driver of economic growth, freight mobility, and sustainable passenger transport throughout Southern Africa. SKF understands the pressures faced by railway operators – from ensuring equipment reliability and optimising maintenance, to extending asset longevity, meeting stringent safety requirements and improving operational efficiency in demanding environments.”
To address these challenges, SKF has developed a full value chain that unites rugged, premium‑quality products, advanced technologies, world‑class factories, remanufacturing centres, aftermarket support and highly trained personnel. Working in concert, these elements deliver integrated solutions that support the extended running of freight and passenger trains. “Our objectives are to lower operating costs, extend equipment life and maintenance intervals, minimise environmental impact and help rail operators achieve maximum efficiency and reliability, ultimately driving down Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) while enabling sustainable performance for the future,” affirms Mashadi.
SKF’s comprehensive railway solutions portfolio supports freight rail, passenger rail, locomotives, metros and light rail systems. The offering includes wheelset and axlebox bearings, traction motor and gearbox bearings, lubrication systems for rail rolling stock, infrastructure and sealing solutions supported by engineering services designed to maximise asset performance and availability.
SKF partners closely with customers to strengthen the entire asset lifecycle. With advanced condition monitoring solutions such as SKF Insight Rail and SKF IMx Rail, operators gain real‑time visibility into the health of critical rotating equipment. This enables predictive maintenance strategies that help prevent unplanned failures, reduce downtime and optimise maintenance schedules, ultimately improving reliability and lowering costs.
SKF’s railway capabilities extend beyond components to include bearing mounting and dismounting, technical training, inspection services, reliability audits, and remanufacturing. Across five continents, 18 state‑of‑the‑art remanufacturing centres refurbish axle bearings, units and axle boxes to industry standards. By reusing materials and products, these facilities deliver up to 55% cost savings and as much as 90% carbon footprint reduction compared to new bearings – a powerful demonstration of sustainability in action. Restoring bearings to original performance specifications enables operators to reduce maintenance costs, extend component life, lower material consumption and meet sustainability objectives without compromising safety or reliability.
- SKF Railway services are designed to support operators with expertise, innovation and practical solutions across every stage of the rail value chain. These include expert analysis, design and consultancy, on‑site support as well as on‑site and remote training. Mashadi points out that choosing the right product can have a significant impact. “By achieving the optimal maintenance interval, operators can lower maintenance costs, extend service life, and reduce both TCO and carbon footprint. Our team of railway specialists is trained to determine the most effective solutions for each operator, ensuring performance and sustainability go hand-in-hand.”
With a dedicated railway service and remanufacturing facility in South Africa, backed by SKF’s global railway network, customers benefit from local support, technical expertise, and access to world-class railway technologies. SKF’s presence at SARA, held from 20–23 October at the Sandton Convention Centre Expo, highlights its leadership as a trusted partner in Africa’s rail industry. With a full value chain solution and commitment to sustainability and digital innovation, SKF is empowering the entire rail ecosystem to achieve reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible performance for the future. The SKF railway team will be at SARA on stand # 42 to engage with stakeholders, share insights, knowledge and expertise.
