Vibration is normal in most rotating machinery. However, vibration can be detrimental to component health or performance if left to reach abnormal levels and is usually an early indicator of machine failure. What causes problematic vibration levels and how can wind farm operators protect against this?

Many industries, such as manufacturing, are now connecting their machines, and even entire facilities, with the Internet of Things (IoT). This enables automation and delivers unprecedented levels of performance data. Despite this, the wind energy sector is somewhat behind and has some catching up to do. What benefits could the IoT offer the wind industry?

Maintenance programs could be about to get an overhaul. Typically, operators would manage wind turbine performance and maintenance themselves or choose certain aspects to outsource to different providers. Performance-based service contracts may offer a preferable alternative. Raf Kerkofs from SKF is set to present on this topic at Wind O&M EU 2019.

2019 promises to be a big year for wind energy. There are plenty of important events coming up, and new approaches to O&M will play a significant role in the sector. The Wind Farm Management Blog talks to Dr. Philipp Schmid from SKF for key insights into what we can expect in 2019.

Bearings are key components for machinery reliability. Therefore, they need to be robust, especially in critical applications such as main shafts and gearboxes for wind turbines. Various methods for enhancing the durability of these components are often discussed. In this article, we compare carburized non-coated with black oxide through hardened bearings.

Premature drivetrain failures are a common cause of wind turbine downtime. However, the cause of these failures is not always clear. SKF is supporting the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to conduct a study that could provide the wind energy sector with vital insights into drivetrain defects.

Remanufacturing in wind energy is a relatively new phenomenon. When remanufacturing is mentioned in the sector, most would associate the process with bearings. But the remanufacturing trend is gathering speed and lubrication systems are the next component identified as an area where operators could significantly reduce costs.

Bearing remanufacturing centers help wind farm operators to extend the service life of their components in a cost- and time-effective manner. The Wind Farm Management Blog previously explained how bearings for wind turbines are remanufactured. This time, we provide a look inside one of SKF’s facilities in the USA, showing key aspects of the remanufacturing process in a video.

When a bearing approaches the end of its service life, it may seem logical to replace it with a new one. This has been the attitude in the wind energy sector for many years. But things might be about to change as remanufacturing bearings offers organizations the chance to become more competitive and boost uptime.