SKF India (Industrial) has launched its new VA9A1 Spherical Roller Bearing (SRB) Series, designed for low-speed and high-load applications across industries including metals and mining, cement, material handling, pulp and paper, food and beverage, agriculture and textiles. The new bearing series is aimed at industrial operations where frequent relubrication, bearing wear and unexpected equipment stoppages can increase maintenance costs and affect productivity. SKF India has developed the VA9A1 Series to help industries improve equipment reliability while reducing lubrication requirements and lifecycle costs.
The VA9A1 Series offers up to 50% longer grease life, up to two times higher Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) and 8% higher grease capacity. These features are designed to help customers extend maintenance intervals, improve equipment uptime and reduce the resources required for lubrication.
Nrithika Sridharan, Director, Marketing & Strategy, SKF India, Southeast Asia and Middle East (ISEAM), said industrial customers are increasingly looking for solutions that deliver measurable operational benefits rather than components alone. She said the VA9A1 Series combines SKF’s application expertise with product development focused on improving uptime, controlling costs and supporting more efficient use of resources. Longer grease life and lower lubrication requirements, she added, can provide value throughout the operating life of industrial equipment.
The launch is part of SKF India’s focus on application-specific products and customer-focused solutions for demanding industrial environments. The company said the new bearing series has been developed to address maintenance challenges faced by industries where equipment operates under heavy loads and at low speeds.
Longer grease life can reduce the frequency of relubrication, while higher grease capacity can support longer operating periods between maintenance activities. The reported increase in MTBF is intended to improve equipment availability and reduce interruptions caused by bearing-related failures.
The VA9A1 Series is targeted at a wide range of industrial applications. These include equipment used in metals and mining operations, cement plants, material handling systems, pulp and paper facilities, food and beverage processing, agricultural machinery and textile manufacturing.
SKF India (Industrial) said the new series is available through its nationwide distribution network, allowing industrial customers across the country to access the product. With the launch, SKF India is expanding its range of solutions for industries that require reliable performance under demanding operating conditions. The company is focusing on products that can help customers improve machine availability, manage maintenance requirements and reduce overall operating costs.
Founded in 1907, SKF develops bearings, seals, lubrication systems, condition monitoring solutions and related services aimed at reducing friction and improving the efficiency of industrial equipment. The company operates in approximately 130 countries and has around 17,000 distributor locations worldwide. SKF reported annual sales of SEK 91,583 million in 2025 and had approximately 37,271 employees globally. The company’s products and services are used across industries to improve equipment performance, reliability and energy efficiency.
