SKF to close factory in South Africa

SKF is closing its manufacturing plant in Uitenhage, South Africa, by the end of June 2007.

The plant today has 134 employees. In the past 10 years the factory has been part of the SKF global manufacturing system and more than 90% of the production from Uitenhage has been exported.

Despite numerous growth initiatives and cost cutting measures over several years, the Uitenhage plant with its limited size and dependency on nearly 100% of imported raw material, can not compete in the local home market nor in the international market. These factors, combined with the relative strength of the rand, have had a negative impact on the financial performance for a number of years.

The products today manufactured in Uitenhage will be transferred to other plants within the SKF Group.

The total cost for the closure amounts to approximately SEK 50 million.

Göteborg, December 5, 2006

Aktiebolaget SKF
(publ.)







For further information, please contact:
PRESS: Lars G Malmer, SKF Group Communication, tel. +46 (0)31 337 1541, e-mail: Lars.G.Malmer@skf.com
IR: Marita Björk, SKF Investor Relations, tel: 031 3371994, e-post: marita.bjork@skf.com