Ghent, Belgium, 10 September 2026 − Sentea, the fibre-optic sensing specialist, has been selected by SKF, the world leader in bearings, as its partner to develop and produce the SKF Core, a new integrated hardware platform powering the next generation of SKF Insight bearings. The collaboration marks an important milestone for Sentea and demonstrates how fibre-optic sensing is moving into industrial-scale deployment across industrial and mobile applications.

Fibre-optic sensing offers important advantages over conventional sensing technologies: immunity to electromagnetic interference, intrinsic safety, resistance to extreme temperatures and harsh environments, and the ability to measure multiple parameters− strain, temperature, vibration, pressure − along a single hair-thin fibre, even from deep inside rotating machinery. However, cost, size and system complexity have historically limited its adoption in high-volume industrial applications. Sentea's chip-based interrogator technology changes that. By integrating the optical read-out onto a photonic chip, Sentea delivers fibre sensing in a compact, robust and cost-effective form factor ready for serial production.

The SKF Core integrates sensing, processing and communication into a single industrial unit, radically simplifying the deployment of SKF Insight bearings. These bearings provide machine builders and industrial operators with direct insight into conditions inside the bearing, including load, speed, temperature and vibrations, enabling SKF to derive actionable information about bearing operation and health. This supports a shift from reactive maintenance towards proactive optimization and protection of critical equipment.

"For Sentea, this collaboration represents an important step from innovation to industrial-scale deployment," says Karsten Verhaegen, CEO of Sentea. "Being selected by SKF, with its demanding requirements for performance, quality and industrialisation, validates both our technology and our ability to manufacture at scale. It brings us another step closer to our ambition of bringing fibre sensing everywhere."

"Our customers are increasingly looking for ways to improve productivity, reduce unplanned downtime and maximize equipment performance. SKF Insight bearings give them a new level of visibility into what is happening inside the machine, enabling better decisions and greater confidence in operation. Sentea is the right partner for us to make this happen," says Mark Verbakel, Head of SKF Insight bearings.

SKF will unveil the SKF Core and next-generation SKF Insight bearing solution at AMB Stuttgart, 15–19 September 2026. Visitors will be able to see the complete solution in operation, with live bearing-condition data, at the SKF booth (6C71).

About Sentea

Senteadevelops and manufactures fibre-optic sensing solutions based on siliconphotonics. Its chip-based FBG interrogator technology combines high-performanceoptical sensing with compact size, robustness and cost efficiency. Sentea workswith industrial OEMs and solution providers across wind energy, industrialequipment, infrastructure and transportation, supporting applications such asstructural health monitoring, condition monitoring and predictive maintenance.Its technology is designed to enable large-scale industrial deployment of fibre-opticsensing. Founded in 2018 as a spin-off of Ghent University and imec, Sentea isheadquartered in Ghent, Belgium.

About SKF

Since 1907,SKF has been making some of the world’s most innovative bearings, seals, lubrication systems, condition monitoring solutions, and services to reduce friction. Less friction means more energy saved and by reducing it, we make industry smarter, more competitive, and more energy efficient, building a more sustainable future where we can all do more with less. SKF is represented in approximately 130 countries and has around 17,000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2025 were SEK 91,583 million and the number of employees was 37,271.

Press contact Sentea: KarstenVerhaegen, CEO, karsten.verhaegen@sentea.com

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