With around 84,000 employees worldwide, Schaeffler is one of the world’s largest technology companies in family ownership and, with approximately 170 locations in 50 countries, has a worldwide network of manufacturing locations, research and development facilities, and sales companies. As a global development partner and supplier, Schaeffler maintains stable long-term relationships with its customers and suppliers.

Globalization, urbanization, digitalization, scarcity of resources, renewable energies, and the growing demand for affordable mobility are leading to changed, much more dynamic market requirements and business models. Based on these megatrends, the Schaeffler Group has developed its “Mobility for tomorrow" strategy concept, with which the company is focusing on four are-as across divisions and regional borders: Environmentally friendly drives, urban mobility, interurban mobility, and the energy chain. Schaeffler is playing an active part in shaping these focal areas with its own research and development activities and, as a leading expert in the fields of innovation and technology, offers its customers and business partners an attractive product range. The Schaeffler Group makes a decisive contribution to all forms of future mobility. As a development partner with a comprehensive understanding of systems, Schaeffler already offers innovative products for hybrid and electric vehicles. At the same time, Schaeffler is also working to increase the energy efficiency of conventional automotive engine and transmission solutions and of bearing technology for industrial applications. The broad range of products and services includes components and systems for automobile drive trains and products for high-speed trains through to rolling bearings for solar power plants and innovative solutions for aviation and aero-space applications.

Quality

Schaeffler’s manufacturing expertise and holistic quality management ensure a level of product quality that is significantly above the sector average. The “zero defects" principle is the standard and represents the stabilization of processes and continuous improvement. It serves to identify and eliminate weaknesses early on – and therefore prevent errors in the first place. Numerous awards from customers and certifications according to internationally valid standards are a testament to the company’s high quality standards. In 2014 alone, Schaeffler received 33 quality awards, including GM’s prestigious “Supplier Quality Excellence Award".

Technology

Schaeffler has an extremely broad wealth of expertise in manufacturing and state-of-the-art technology for the highest level of cost effectiveness and precision. The company has 74 plants worldwide and produces high-precision products with a high level of vertical integration. Schaeffler is one of the sector’s technological leaders in numerous manufacturing areas, including cold forming, forging, and heat treatment. The company’s own Special Machinery department provides support with the construction of assembly and production lines and works together with specialists from the Manufacturing Technology department to develop and implement solutions that are customized to match the production facility’s requirements.

Innovation

Approximately 6,400 employees at 16 R&D centers develop new products, technologies, processes, and methods for solutions that are tailored to the market. With more than 2,500 patent registrations in 2014, Schaeffler is Germany’s second most innovative company according to the DPMA (German Patent and Trademark Office) and is therefore one of the leading innovators in the industrial sector. Currently Schaeffler holds 23,000 active patents and patent registrations. The company’s main development locations in Germany are Herzogenaurach, Schweinfurt, and Bühl, which are linked with further development centers in Europe, Asia, and both North and South America.

Sustainable management and social responsibility have been integral parts of the Schaeffler Group’s active corporate culture for many years. Schaeffler places great emphasis on combining economic success with acting responsibly – towards customers, the environment, and employees. The consideration of ecological and social criteria along the entire value added chain and the saving of resources are an integral part of Schaeffler’s corporate guidelines. These form the basis for long-term growth and for the value of the company to continuously increase.

A uniform worldwide environmental policy provides the basis for a successful environmental management program. All manufacturing processes comply with strict legal and internal environmental protection requirements. All Schaeffler Group sites worldwide are certified in accordance with ISO 14001 or the even more stringent EMAS directive. This means that the Schaeffler Group plays a leading role when it comes to environmental protection on an international level.

Schaeffler supports and challenges its employees from the very beginning. Soundly-based training in industrial/technical and commercial areas and advanced professional training offer comprehensive opportunities for development in technical and commercial areas as well as in social and management skills and intercultural knowledge.