SKF researcher receives prestigious STLE award
Time：08 Sep,2026
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/ueditor/php/upload/image/20260908/1788866979499685.png" title="1788866979499685.png" alt="1.png"/></p><p><span style="font-size: 14px;">Pramod Shetty's award-winning research advances understanding of grease-lubricated bearings, helping build the knowledge behind more reliable, efficient and longer-lasting machines.
Pramod Shetty, a researcher at SKF and PhD graduate from the University of Twente, has received the 2026 STLE Captain Alfred E. Hunt Memorial Best Paper Award.
The award, was presented at the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE) Annual Meeting 2026, recognizes outstanding contributions to tribology and lubrication engineering and is regarded as one of the field's most respected distinctions. The winning paper, "Film Thickness in Grease-Lubricated Deep Groove Ball Bearings—A Master Curve," was co-authored by Rihard Pasaribu, Jude Osara, Robert Jan Meijer, Piet Lugt and Pramod Shetty.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 14px;">“The reward reinforces that we are working on important challenges and contributing meaningful knowledge to the tribology community. It also motivates me to continue pushing the boundaries of research”, says Pramod Shetty.
As a child growing up in the coastal town of Udupi in southern India, Pramod spent hours building homemade science kits and trying to understand how things worked. Today, that same curiosity continues to drive his research. Outside the laboratory, he enjoys travelling, hiking and adventure sports. He is also an amateur Yakshagana artist, performing a traditional Indian art form that combines storytelling, music, dance and theatre. For Shetty, the recognition is both an honour and a source of motivation.
"This recognition reinforces that we are working on important challenges and contributing meaningful knowledge to the tribology community. It gives me confidence and motivation to continue exploring new questions and advancing our understanding further."
Why this research matters
The research focuses on film thickness in grease-lubricated bearings. A lubricant film separates moving surfaces and helps prevent direct contact between metal components. Understanding how that film forms and performs is essential to improving bearing reliability, reducing friction and extending service life. While the research is highly specialized, its impact reaches far beyond the laboratory. For customers, advances in tribology can contribute to longer bearing life, improved equipment reliability, reduced maintenance requirements and increased energy efficiency. These insights also help engineers make better decisions when designing applications, selecting lubrications and optimizing machine performance.
Where industry and academia come together
The award-winning work was conducted through the SKF University Technology Centre (UTC) for Grease Lubrication at the University of Twente, reflecting SKF's long-standing commitment to combining fundamental research with industrial application. The collaboration brings together SKF researchers, doctoral candidates and university experts to address some of the most complex challenges in bearing technology, lubrication and machine reliability.
By combining academic excellence with real-world engineering challenges, the SKF UTC helps accelerate the development of knowledge that can ultimately be translated into products, services and solutions for customers. It also plays an important role in developing future expertise and strengthening SKF's position as a technology leader.
The STLE recognition highlights not only the achievements of the authors but also the value of sustained collaboration between industry and academia in advancing the science behind modern engineering systems.
A passion for tribology
Pramod's interest in tribology began during his bachelor's studies when he attended a conference on the subject.
"That was the moment surfaces, friction and lubrication started to fascinate me, I became curious about how microscopic interactions between surfaces could influence the performance of real engineering systems," he recalls.
From that point onward, he deliberately pursued projects, internships and research opportunities related to tribology, including research into alternative lubricants produced from waste tyres. His academic journey eventually led him to the prestigious TRIBOS Erasmus Mundus master's programme.
"I once asked a technical question, and my professor replied: 'I don't know the answer, but the people at SKF might.' That was the first time I heard about SKF."
The comment sparked a new ambition. Pramod later joined SKF as an intern, completed his PhD through the SKF UTC and ultimately became part of SKF's global research community.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 14px;">Research with real-world impact
For Pramod, one of the most rewarding aspects of working at SKF is seeing how research creates tangible customer value.
"I enjoy working on questions that are both scientifically interesting and industrially relevant. It's fulfilling to know that the work we do contributes to products, applications and solutions used by customers around the world," he says.
He also credits collaboration and mentorship for shaping his career, particularly the influence of SKF Senior Scientist Piet Lugt, a co-author of the award-winning paper.
"His ability to connect ideas, simplify complex phenomena and bring mathematical clarity to challenging problems has had a profound influence on me as a researcher."
As industries continue to seek more efficient, reliable and sustainable ways of operating, tribology remains an important enabler of progress. Through research partnerships, scientific expertise and a commitment to innovation, SKF continues to expand the knowledge that helps customers overcome real-world challenges. For Pramod, the award is a milestone in an ongoing journey.
"Awards celebrate past achievements, but they also inspire future discoveries. There is always more to learn, and that is what makes research so exciting," he says.
Five short questions with Pramod Shetty
What first attracted you to tribology?
I became fascinated by how friction, wear and lubrication influence the performance of engineering systems. It's an area where fundamental science has a direct impact on real-world applications.
What do you enjoy most about working at SKF?
The opportunity to work on challenging topics and collaborate with experts while seeing how research translates into value for customers.
Who has inspired you most during your career?
My mentor Piet Lugt. His way of thinking and ability to connect theory with practical engineering challenges has been incredibly influential.
If you were not a researcher, what would you be?
A teacher. I enjoy sharing knowledge and helping others discover and learn new things.
FAQ
What is tribology?
Tribology is the science of friction, wear and lubrication. It focuses on how surfaces interact when they move relative to one another and how lubricants help reduce friction and protect components from wear. Tribology is fundamental to the performance of bearings, gears, seals, electric motors, industrial machinery and transportation systems.
Why does SKF invest in tribology research?
Tribology sits at the heart of bearing performance. Research helps SKF better understand how bearings and lubrication systems perform under different operating conditions. This knowledge strengthens SKF's technical leadership in the industry.
How does tribology research benefit customers?
Tribology research enables SKF to solve customers’ complex operational challenges. Using the knowledge, SKF develops products and solutions that help customers improve reliability, efficiency and sustainability in their operations.
What role do SKF University Technology Centres play?
SKF University Technology Centres (UTCs) bring together university researchers and SKF experts to address long-term scientific and engineering challenges. The partnerships help accelerate innovation, strengthen research capabilities and develop knowledge that can be applied to future products and customer solutions.
What does the STLE Best Paper Award recognize?
The STLE Captain Alfred E. Hunt Memorial Best Paper Award recognizes outstanding technical contributions to tribology and lubrication engineering. Receiving the award is a significant recognition from the global tribology community and highlights research that advances both scientific understanding and practical engineering applications.</span></p><p><br/></p>
