39 - SKF announces the creation of the new Industry 4.0 fiber placement line: a process unmatched anywhere in the world

The SKF group, leader in the mechanical bearings market, presented a new line benefiting from a production process that is unprecedented worldwide and specific to the Lons-le-Saunier plant: fiber placement via a automated line of 6 robots. Thanks to unique technology and know-how, this new line aims to support the aeronautics industry in its ambition to manufacture hydrogen-powered aircraft by 2030. To meet the major challenge of the aeronautics industry to reduce its carbon emissions, SKF Aerospace has developed a unique technology enabling a weight saving of around 10% and a saving of more than 100,000 tonnes of CO2 over the life of the Airbus A350 fleet (A350-1000 and 900ULR) produced and delivered from 2022. Another major lever for the group's transformation, automation and digitalization are at the heart of the deployment of these 4.0 solutions. In this respect, this new technology born in Lons-le-Saunier is now patented “worldwide”. Built by SKF in 1971, the Lons-le-Saunier site is the group's center of excellence in composite technology. With a production of 600,000 parts per year, the site specializes in the manufacture of ball and roller bearings and joints for aeronautical applications (landing gear, engine mounts, wings) and composite solutions aimed at optimize designs to achieve weight savings. SKF Aerospace's objective is to position itself as an essential partner for the entire chain of the aeronautics industry.

https://www.skf.com/fr/news-and-events/news/2022/2022-03-29-skf-annonce-la-creation-de-la-nouvelle-ligne-4-0-de- placement-of-fibre-on-the-skf-aerospace-lons-le-saunier-site