Company Announcement - SKF South Africa’s Training Solutions, is living the group global vision “To equip the world with SKF knowledge” by opening the very first official Regional Training Centre. SKF’s Training Solutions Manager, Steve Parkinson, recognised that SKF was very often unable to provide training to customers in Cape Town. The cost of sending a trainer and the associated flight, accommodation and car hire costs meant that there had to be at least 10 delegates for each course or it was not cost effective.

SKF did not however have a process or contracts in place to implement Regional Training Centres. Parkinson firstly discussed the possibility of Regional Training Centres with SKF South Africa MD Ian Cillie who gave the project his full support. The project was then discussed with Centre of Excellence head, Graeme Poole, based in Luton (UK) and then with SKF Group legal and it was agreed that South Africa could become the pilot for such a project.

Parkinson initiated discussions with Phillip Fouche, owner of West Cape Bearings, to determine the feasibility of having a local training centre and trainer, so that training could be provided to smaller class sizes, which would assist to increase service levels to customers in the Western Cape. “I immediately liked the idea of becoming a regional training centre and invested in the provision of classroom facilities and a practical training area, as well as all the required tools and equipment” says Fouche.

Wynand Jurg from West Cape Bearings has been fully trained to provide training on the basic courses and the training facility has officially opened its doors. The first course has already been successfully completed at the end of May 2015. We wish to congratulate West Cape Bearings on becoming the world’s first official SKF Regional Training Centre and wish them the very best for the future.