SKF Bearing Storage Standards – Comprehensive Guidelines for Maintaining Long-Term Performance

1. SKF Bearing Definition and general philosophy
   Storage time is the maximum period during which a bearing can be kept before use without measurable loss of running performance. SKF bearings leave the factory coated with a premium, low-odor rust-preventive oil that forms a tenacious molecular film on every functional surface.This film is compatible with the majority of common lubricants and gives excellent protection against corrosion, provided the bearing remains in its original, unopened and undamaged SKF package. SKF therefore recommends a strict first-in-first-out (FIFO) stock-rotation policy: the oldest consignment should always be the first to reach the assembly line.
2. Storage time for open (non-sealed) bearings
   Open bearings—those supplied without seals, shields or factory grease fill—are the most sensitive to environmental influences. The table below summarizes the maximum allowable storage period for unlubricated, open bearings when they are kept in their original packaging.
3. Storage time for open (non-sealed) bearings
   Open bearings—those supplied without seals, shields or factory grease fill—are the most sensitive to environmental influences. The table below summarizes the maximum allowable storage period for unlubricated, open bearings when they are kept in their original packaging.

Bearings that have been removed from their wrappers, or whose wrappers have been torn, should be re-treated and re-packed within a few days if they are not placed in service immediately.

3. Storage time for sealed or shielded bearings
   Sealed bearings (suffixes RS, RSH, D, DD, 2RS, 2RSH, etc.) and shielded bearings (suffixes Z, ZZ, 2Z) leave the factory filled with the correct quantity of high-performance grease. Grease ageing—oxidation, oil bleed separation and base-oil evaporation—is the life-limiting factor. As a general rule, the maximum calendar life in original packaging is three years. SKF distinguishes three sub-categories:

a) Spherical roller bearings and CARB toroidal roller bearings carrying suffixes VT143, GEA, GEN, GEM, GEW or GLE are filled with special wide-temperature greases and may be stored for up to five years.
b) SKF food-grade bearings and bearing units (suffixes FDA, LGFP2, NSF H1 approved) are filled with edible-category greases whose oxidation inhibitors are consumed more rapidly; shelf life is therefore limited to two years.
c) All other sealed or shielded deep-groove ball bearings, angular-contact ball bearings, cylindrical roller bearings, tapered roller bearings, etc., should be used within three years of the production date printed on the box label.

4. Critical environmental and handling factors
   Even when the above time limits are respected, the following precautions are essential to preserve bearing integrity:

• Location: Store indoors on pallets or shelves at least 30 cm above floor level to avoid moisture wicking.
• Climate: Maintain a frost-free, condensation-free atmosphere. Maximum room temperature 40 °C (104 °F); avoid sudden temperature swings that could cause water vapour to condense inside metallized films.
• Ventilation: Avoid forced-air flow directly on cartons; localised air streams can lower temperature locally and promote condensation.
• Vibration: Do not store bearings near presses, compressors or heavy-duty traffic routes. Prolonged micro-vibration can cause false-brinelling (microscopic fretting) on rolling elements and raceways.
• Orientation: Whenever possible, store bearings horizontally to prevent creeping and edge-impact damage. Very large bearings should be rotated a quarter-turn every six months to avoid flat-spotting of rolling elements.
• Packaging integrity: Never open or puncture the original SKF wrapper until the moment of mounting. Once the package is breached, the corrosion inhibitor begins to evaporate and contamination can enter.
• Cleanliness: Keep storage rooms free of abrasive dust, acids, alkalis, and solvents whose vapours can migrate through polyethylene liners and attack grease or preservative oil.
• Inventory control: Use the date code on the SKF label to implement FIFO rotation. Mark the outer carton with a colour dot each year to give warehouse staff an immediate visual cue.

By following these expanded guidelines, users can be confident that every SKF bearing—whether open or sealed—will deliver the full design life once pressed into service.

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