16 June 2025 marked a standout moment on Egypt’s industrial calendar as SKF celebrated 50 years of innovation, excellence and partnership that have shaped and strengthened the country’s progress. SKF Egypt commemorated their golden jubilee with a prestigious Heavy Industry Day. The event welcomed esteemed leaders and key representatives from Egypt’s industrial and heavy industry sectors, along with valued business partners, distributors and media. The day offered a platform for reflection, insight and celebration, as attendees honoured the company’s enduring legacy.
Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski in New Cairo, provided the perfect canvas for this distinguished occasion, featuring a packed program that included keynote addresses, presentations of SKF’s latest advancements in heavy industry solutions, and insightful discussions led by industry leaders and experts.
SKF’s presence in Egypt has been marked by the delivery of product, engineering and service solutions spanning mechanical services, predictive maintenance, asset management and inventory optimization that support a wide range of industrial sectors. Mr. Khaled El Dessouky, General Manager, SKF Egypt, unpacked some of the company’s significant achievements and milestones throughout their five decades in Egypt. “We assisted Egyptian petrochemical plants in optimizing maintenance strategies, reducing downtime and costs by up to $20 million in the first year, followed by $6 million annually. Furthermore, the implementation of our advanced lubrication programs and machine condition detection techniques has enhanced operational efficiencies of countless plants.”
Addressing the company’s financial and sustainability achievements, Mr. El Dessouky noted that SKF has been making great strides in sustainability, reaching significant decarbonization milestones globally. “The company continues to focus on renewable energy use and environmental performance improvements.”
A core component of the event was a series of focused sessions dedicated to SKF’s three key industry sectors – Metal. Mining & Cement (MMPC) and Paper & Pulp – offering in-depth insights and tailored discussions. “We presented case studies focusing on major issues and challenges facing industry,” explained Mr. El Dessouky. He highlighted several key takeaways from the sector-specific sessions, each underscoring critical trends and opportunities shaping Egypt’s industrial landscape.
A primary focus for the metal sector was local value addition addressing the country’s intensifying efforts to increase domestic processing in metals and minerals. The aim is to reduce raw material exports and strengthen internal value chains, an essential shift for driving industrial growth, creating jobs and ensuring long-term economic resilience.
With export competitiveness as the key theme for the MMPC sector, discussions centred on strategies to enhance Egypt’s position as a regional cement export hub, including port expansion. Aligned with this focus, infrastructure developments, particularly port expansion and improved logistics, were identified as pivotal to enhancing efficiency and access to regional markets.
Discussions in the Paper & Pulp sector centred on changing demand patterns, including the rapid growth of e-commerce and increased demand for food packaging. These shifts are fuelling demand for flexible packaging and corrugated board, creating new opportunities for innovation and investment within the sector.
Amongst the distinguished guests were His Excellency Dag Juhlin-Dannfelt – the Ambassador of Sweden in Egypt, who took to the podium, commenting that SKF is one of Sweden’s major companies and highlighted the importance of strengthening the Swedish/Egyptian business partnership. Mr. Sandro Chervatin, SKF Regional Director, Europe South, Turkey & Middle East expressed: “It is a celebration of trust, of teamwork and of transformation. And I am proud to stand here on behalf of SKF’s global leadership to say: Thank you, Egypt.” In his keynote address, Mr. Stefan Gladek, SKF Industries Leader, EMEA remarked: “Egypt is a major hub for SKF Heavy Industry applications, and we look forward to further developing our business.” Other honored guests included Mr. Mohamed Gamal – Chairman of MTI Group and Chairman of EG Bank, Mr. Mohamed Zada – General Manager of Suez Steel and Mr. Nihad Dzinalija – SKF Regional Manager, Middle East.
Reflecting on the success of the event, Mr. El Dessouky emphasised the high level of participation and meaningful engagement: “The sessions were marked by a strong turnout of nearly 300 attendees whose enthusiasm, energy and engagement underscored the day’s success. The event struck the right balance between being informative and actionable, fostering a collaborative atmosphere where both challenges and ambitions were shared openly. It was a hugely successful and significant outcome, one that fully aligns with our objectives.”
“Looking ahead, we remain firmly committed to supporting Egypt’s continued growth and development. SKF’s strategic focus for the coming years centres on sustainability, innovation and operational efficiency.” On sustainability and decarbonisation, Mr. El Dessouky noted that SKF aims to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 41% compared to 2019 levels, in line with its 2030 sustainability target”. He adds that efforts are underway across all operations, to help industries become more energy-efficient and environmentally responsible.
In terms of innovation and customer solutions, Mr. El Dessouky stated that SKF will continue to develop clean technology solutions that help industries reduce their environmental impact. This includes advancements in bearings, seals, lubrication management, and condition monitoring.
Underscoring the company’s people-first values, Mr. El Dessouky reaffirmed their commitment to ethical leadership and workplace well-being: “With ethical leadership and employee care always high on our agenda, we remain committed to improving diversity and gender equality in management, ensuring a safe and inclusive workplace, and supporting the overall well-being of all our employees.”
“As we look to the future, SKF will remain steadfast in driving operational excellence, strengthening financial performance, setting a benchmark for industry and delivering greater value to our customers. We are committed to championing sustainability, integrity, accountability and responsible business practices at every level,” concluded Mr. El Dessouky.
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