GOTHENBURG, Sweden -- SKF yesterday inaugurated the SKF Global Technical Center China in Shanghai.

According to SKF, the center will be an integral part of the company's global network of technical centers and will enable SKF to develop products and solutions for local and global customers in a faster and more cost-effective way.

The center will initially focus on testing and providing advanced technical knowledge for design, process and supplier validation. In addition, the center will conduct bearing analysis for customers and will have a fully equipped laboratory for metallurgy and chemistry.

"The new center will significantly reduce lead-time for our customers and ensure that we continue to develop value-added solutions for their current and future requirements. It enables us to more effectively bring innovation and technical knowledge closer to our customers in China. We have had a very good development of our business in China, and this investment, combined with our other recent investments will help us continue this development," said Tom Johnstone, SKF president and CEO.

The SKF Global Technical Center this week began implementing the first phase of services to SKF’s automotive and sealing solutions businesses. Later this year it will be expanded to serve the industrial segments as well, the company said.