How Skama strengthens its industrial reach with Donghua chain solutions

How is Donghua strengthening its partnership with Skama, one of Greece’s leading distributors of industrial components? In this article, Panagiotis Antoniadis, Technical Director at Skama SA, shares how the collaboration has helped Skama expand beyond bearings into complete power transmission solutions for the industrial market. We explore how the company’s service-driven approach, technical expertise, and cooperation with Donghua enable it to deliver greater reliability and value to industries across Greece.

“Before Donghua, we couldn’t offer a complete power transmission range to the industry,” Antoniadis says. “We were known mainly for bearings, lubricants and transmission belts and didn’t have a chain supplier that could meet the level of quality, flexibility, and technical support our customers expected. We needed a partner capable of providing both standard and highly specialized chains, and with Donghua, that finally became possible. From the start, we involved them in our most demanding projects, from special chains to heavy-duty applications, and they always delivered. It’s an excellent partnership: they listen, they support, and together we’ve built a relationship based on trust, reliability, and shared growth.” – Panagiotis Antoniadis, Technical Director at Skama SA

With more than 25 years at Skama SA, Panagiotis Antoniadis has seen the company grow from a specialist in bearings into a trusted partner for power transmission solutions. As Technical Director, he has played a central role in expanding the company’s reach across Greece’s industrial landscape, supported by strong partnerships and a strong service orientation focused on helping customers solve problems, improve reliability, and get more value from every product.

Skama: a growing force in Greek industry

Founded in 1957, Skama has developed into one of Greece’s leading distributors of industrial components. The company employs more than 200 people and operates three main departments: industrial, automotive aftermarket, and lubrication. With two central locations in Athens and Thessaloniki and a widespread net of branches, Skama ensures full coverage of the Greek market. Skama represents some of the most recognized international brands in the fields of bearings, power transmission, lubrication, and automotive parts.

In addition to distribution, the company provides technical support, training, and consulting services aimed at improving productivity and reducing downtime for customers. With an extensive network, large local stock, and experienced engineers, Skama serves industries across all major sectors, from mining and power generation to food, pharma, and chemicals. The focus is clear: work closely with end users and deliver solutions that combine performance, reliability, and value.

“We’re not just a supplier of parts,” Antoniadis explains. “Our goal is to provide value, to gain the confidence of the customer so that when there’s a problem, they call Skama. We keep stock, we train their teams, and we help them find the root cause when something fails. The focus is always on improving reliability, not just replacing a part. That’s how trust is built.”

Finding the right partner

Around the early 2000s, Skama began searching for a reliable chain supplier to complement its growing power transmission portfolio. The turning point came when the team discovered Donghua:

“We found Donghua online, quite by accident on the internet,” Antoniadis recalls. “At first, we sent a few RFQs and small test projects just to see how they would respond. But their answers were always quick, accurate, and professional. They offered the right combination of quality, lead time, and price, and that’s when we realized we’d found the right partner. From that moment, we knew Donghua could help us grow in the chain transmission business and we formalized our partnership.”

Expanding beyond bearings

The cooperation enabled Skama to reposition itself in the market. For decades, the company had been recognized primarily as a bearing and lub specialist. With Donghua, it could now deliver complete transmission solutions, including specialized chains for demanding applications such as bucket elevators and brick manufacturing plants. These projects required not just supply, but deep technical understanding, and that became a defining feature of the partnership.

“The real value lies in the special solutions,” Antoniadis says. “Standard chains are part of the business, but customized chains make the difference. That’s where Donghua really stands out. From the beginning, we challenged them with difficult tasks, special chains, drawing chains, heavy-duty applications, and they always succeeded. They provide exactly what the customer needs, even when it’s a unique request, and they do it fast. That’s how we’ve gained market share and changed the perception that Skama is only about bearings.”

Service and reliability are key

Technical expertise remains central to Skama’s identity. The company has built a dedicated service team that provides on-site installation, maintenance, and condition monitoring. Combined with Donghua’s extended warranties, test reports, and special stock availability in the Netherlands, this approach ensures customers get both performance and peace of mind.

“When a customer requests a chain, we don’t just send an offer,” Antoniadis explains. “We propose how to make it better, with lubrication, condition monitoring, or warranty options. We also keep chains in stock for our customers. If a chain isn’t available in our own warehouse, Donghua usually keeps it in stock in the Netherlands. And when demand develops for a new specialty chain that isn’t in stock yet, the factory is often very willing to include it in production. That way, it’s ready within a few months and remains available at much shorter notice. This flexibility is what makes Donghua unique. Donghua supports our mindset with the same commitment to reliability.”

Partnership for growth

Across two decades of collaboration, Skama and Donghua have built more than a supply relationship. They share a focus on technical excellence, reliability, and long-term trust, values that continue to drive both companies forward in a demanding industrial market.

“Growth is the goal,” Antoniadis says. “Even after more than sixty years, we keep finding new customers. It’s amazing how many opportunities still appear in the market. With Donghua, we can respond faster, offer complete solutions, and approach new industries with confidence. We keep expanding by earning the trust of new clients and strengthening relationships with the ones we already serve. That combination of local expertise and a strong global partner is what drives us forward at Skama.”