The inauguration has taken place of
the SKF University Technology
Centre for Steels and Heat Treatment
at the University of Cambridge.

The initial five year contract was
signed in 2009 between SKF and
Cambridge University Department
of Materials Science and Metallurgy.

SKF identified and selected a
number of steel technology R&D
topics for the University to work on
to achieve a better understanding of:
How to manage the detailed
microstructure and exploit this
knowledge to enhance bearing
properties
How modifications to steel
composition can enable complex
operational demands to be
mitigated
How to predict the performance
relative to the steel and heat
treatment selection.

Dr Alan Begg, senior vice president
group technology development at
SKF, says that the rationale behind the
creation of the University Technology
Centres was to create strategic
partnerships with universities targeted
on key technical areas and, in so
doing, to create critical mass to get
attention. A further aim is to establish
partnerships with others in order to
gain additional funding.

Leading the team at Cambridge is
Professor Harry Bhadeshia a world
expert in physical metallurgy of
steels who welcomes the opportunity
to work with SKF, but knows that
industry and academia won’t always
agree on everything.