SKF UK Ltd. (a division of SKF AB, Sweden; 5251R9N7) this year is celebrating its 100th year with a presence doing business in the UK.

In February 1910, SKF set up a sales office in London and began work on a factory in Leagrave Road. Work on the company's Luton bearing plant began shortly after that. Leagrave Road came online in 1910, and Luton in 1911.

Luton initially employed approximately 150 people, manufacturing less than 200 bearings per day. However, World War I drove a major boost in production, which hit 24,000 bearings per month by 1919.

In 1936, SKF opened a second plant in Sundon. Leagrave Road was consolidated with the Sundon plant in 1977, and it also became headquarters for SKF UK Ltd.

The Sundon plant now manufactures toroidal roller bearings for heavy industrial applications, in addition to a variety of support services, including machine tool spindle repair and rail bearing refurbishment.

Today, SKF also has facilities in Aberdeen to service the oil and gas sector; in Gloucestershire for high precision aerospace bearings; and eleven other locations across the UK for engineered sealing solutions.

SKF UK's Marketing Director, Phil Burge, said: "Our UK engineering base has always played an important role in the overall success of the company, both at home and abroad. Even during the recent economic recession we have still managed to maintain a strong level of output, which we anticipate will grow in future years as the pace of the global economic recovery picks up. As a result, we anticipate continued investment and development of our UK manufacturing operations, giving us the basis for another century of success in the UK."