JULY 2020 SUPPLIERS 33 Speaking of contributions to the automotive industry… SKF began with an innovation and, today, registers around one patent per day for inventions. In 1907, Sven Wingquist, a plant engi- neer responsible for repairs and main- tenance in a textile mill, was dissatisfied with the ball bearings in use. This led him to invent a double-row self-aligning ball bearing, which marks the start of SKF, a company that now has a global presence in 130 countries. By 1908, Wingquist’s patent was granted and the first branch offices opened in additional European countries. This global expansion contin- ued, and by 1912, SKF had a presence in 32 countries. By 1919, 14,000 employees were employed around the world. During these early years, SKF put re- sources and effort into research, gaining a foothold in a broad range of products and solutions including seals, lubrication systems, services, and bearings. Today, SKF registers around one patent per day for inventions. Did you know that SKF founded Volvo? The brand name Volvo was originally reg- istered as a trademark in May 1911, with the intention of being used for a new se- ries of SKF ball bearings (Volvo, in Latin, translates to “I roll” in English). However, the idea was short-lived, and SKF in- stead decided to use its initials on all of its bearing products. In 1924, Assar Gabrielsson, an SKF sales manager, and Gustav Larson, an engi- neer educated at the KTH Royal Insti - tute of Technology, decided to begin construction of a Swedish car able to handle Sweden’s rough roads and colder climate. In 1926, AB Volvo, then a subsidiary of SKF, began activities, producing a trial series of 10 cars. After a year of prepara- tions and prototyping, the firm was ready to start work in the car manufacturing business within the SKF Group. The first car, a Volvo ÖV 4, rolled off the produc- tion line in 1927 at the factory in Hisingen, Gothenburg – one of 280 cars manufac- tured that year. But just three years later in 1930, Volvo sold 639 cars. The first truck, the “Series 1,” was introduced in January 1928 and became an immediate success, attracting attention outside Sweden. The export of trucks to Europe began soon after. In 1935, AB Volvo was introduced at the Stockholm Stock Exchange. That same year, SKF decided to sell its shares. A race to the top SKF’s role as an important contributor of car technology dates back to the start of the automotive industry itself and its de- KEY FACTS SKF’s long and storied history involves the develop- ment of double-row self- aligning ball bearings, the founding of Volvo, and collaborations with Ferrari, Bugatti, and Ducati. mand for roller bearings during the 1920s. Over the years, SKF became involved with the industry in many ways, and eventually their expertise attracted the attention of racing teams around the world. First, it extended to the classic blue Bugatti of the 1930s. Then, in 1946, SKF became a supplier to the motorcycle manufacturer, Ducati. A year later, the company struck a deal with Scuderia Ferrari, and the longest uninterrupted technical collaboration in Formula 1 his- tory was initiated. And it was a good match. At their sec- ond appearance in the Grand Prix circuit in 1947, Ferrari won. We realised early on that the conditions of top-class rac- ing provide the ultimate testbed for proving new designs, new techniques, and new ideas.