CLOSE TO ZERO CO2 WITH FILTER TECHNOLOGY FROM SKF AND HYDX

Regular oil changes in hydraulic systems have until now meant both a large environmental impact and high costs. Now there is a new filter from SKF – using efficient technology from HydX – that converts the oil from a consumable into a circular asset. The technology saves a considerable amount of money, improves performance and reduces CO2 emissions by up to 99%.

In a hydraulic system, oil is pressurised to achieve power and movement. A pump creates pressure and flow, a valve regulates pressure and the direction of the oil flow, and a cylinder or motor creates movement. Hydraulic systems are often used in applications where considerable power and precision are required in parallel. The applications include forestry machines, wheel loaders, cranes and cargo vessels, and use in industry at plants such as steelworks and paper mills.

“Reducing oil consumption in large hydraulic systems is important in many ways,” says Per Willberg, sales engineer at HydX. “There is the environmental concern and it is also expensive, both to purchase and in the destruction process. SKF has far-reaching and exciting ambitions in the sustainability area and has developed a filter technology for double separation (DST), which can clean dirt particles from oil down to the nanolevel. When HydX was asked to develop technology to regulate circulation through the filter, we began working on a solution right away.”

“This collaboration was very successful and SKF launched its RecondOil Box in 2022,” says Per Willberg. “The system resembles a dialysis machine and is connected externally to an existing hydraulic system. It is a complete solution that not only cleans the hydraulic oil at the nanolevel but is also extremely energy-efficient using standardised technology for use in all markets worldwide.”

The filter unit is assembled by SKF, including the customised pump unit from HydX, which among other things, ensures that the flow and pressure are perfectly adapted to viscosity and the temperature of the surroundings. The product has been well-received in the market and SKF estimates that the installed base will comprise a few thousand systems by 2024.

“For customers, the new technology offers enormous advantages,” says Per Willberg. “Clean hydraulic oil equates to increased efficiency, less friction and damage, a reduced risk of leaks, decreased downtime and considerably lower costs. And most pleasing of all, of course, is the sustainability aspect. Thanks to the new solution, the hydraulic oil goes from being a consumable to a circular resource, and CO2 emissions are reduced by up to 99%, compared with destroying the used fluid and replacing it with new oil.”

Within Business Area Portfolio Investments, Volito has significant ownership interests in listed companies. Volito has an ownership philosophy of involvement that focuses on stable, long-term growth. The Group strives for active ownership with involvement on the companies’ boards.

Volito has a diversified portfolio with holdings in Peab AB (publ), Annehem Fastigheter AB (publ), Bulten AB (publ), EQT AB (publ) and EQT’s funds

Peab offers locally produced community building in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark. Operations are conducted in four business areas: Construction, Civil Engineering, Industry and Project Development. Annehem is a growthdriven property company, focusing on commercial, community and residential properties in the Nordic growth areas of Stockholm, Skåne, Gothenburg, Helsinki and Oslo. Bulten is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of fasteners to the international automotive industry, as well as to other sectors such as consumer electronics. EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organisation focused solely on strategies for active ownership. EQT has offices in 24 countries in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and North America, and almost 1 800 employees.