SKF announces that Faber Industrietechnik GmbH of Mannheim (Germany) is the first SKF distributor to become a Certified Maintenance Partner; a new business concept for proactive maintenance to customers via SKF distributors. The SKF Certified Maintenance Program is a comprehensive services package enabling the SKF distributor to offer services which up to now had only been provided by SKF. This new arrangement means that, apart from selling proven SKF products, Faber Industrietechnik will also provide services such as machine condition monitoring, different measurement services (alignment, balancing, etc.), mechanical service work, spare parts logistics, bearing repairs, lubricant supply, training and the provision of tools. Gerhard Schneeweis, member of the SKF GmbH management and Central European Sales Director for the Service Division of the SKF Group, sees the SKF Certified Maintenance Program as an opportunity for even greater mutual support between SKF, its distributors and the end customers. Volker Auth, manager of Faber Industrietechnik GmbH, considers the Certified Maintenance Program to be the ideal tool for opening up new prospective business in the area of proactive maintenance. "Proactive maintenance", explains Auth, "will account for increasing business volumes, as companies would like to dramatically cut costs and increase efficiency in production assets." By creating Certified Maintenance Partners with its distributors SKF will help them to meet their market challenges by means of additional services, education, training, tools and measuring equipment, and instructive support.