Schaeffler is investing around EUR80m (US$97.3m) in a new central laboratory complex in Herzogenaurach as part of the company’s Roadmap 2025 strategy announced last year.
The complex, currently in the detailed planning phase, is scheduled for completion in 2023.
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Schaeffler’s headquarters in Herzogenaurach will soon be home to a cross-divisional central laboratory complex, which will span around 15,000 square metres of gross floor space and house 15 laboratories and more than 360 employees.
The new laboratory facility will centralise and consolidate the Schaeffler Group’s core competencies and capabilities in key areas of technology, including measurement, testing and calibration systems, materials research and design, electrochemistry and optimisation of product lifespan, strength and reliability.
It will also house a new electronics laboratory. The company’s aims in consolidating all these activities under one roof include improving the transfer of knowledge and technology between its divisions and enhancing performance through shared use of resources.
“The idea of the new central laboratory complex is to make key technologies available on an integrated, cross-divisional basis so we can, for example, develop products for sustainable and carbon-neutral mobility and energy ecosystems,” said Schaeffler chief Research & Development officer, Uwe Wagner.
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By GlobalData“To develop solutions for megatrends such as carbon neutrality, next-generation mobility and automation, we also need to boost our ability to rapidly develop our core competencies across a wide range of disciplines, from materials and surface technology to electrochemistry, electronics and digitalisation.
“The new central laboratory complex will provide the ideal springboard for this.”
Schaeffler also intends to make the new complex accessible to external customers. Its plans include a laboratory and presentation area for digitalisation and the use of artificial intelligence.
“Our excellence in manufacturing means we are also ideally positioned to offer our customers optimal solutions in key future areas of technology, such as electric mobility, robotics and hydrogen,” added Schaeffler COO, Andreas Schick.
“These are growth areas where, right from the basic research stage, we have to consider the end product or application, as well as commercial-scale production in order to stay ahead of our global competitors. Our digital simulation technologies, in particular, are integral to this.”
The building, which is scheduled for occupation at the start of 2024, will be built to the latest sustainability standards and operated as a green facility in accordance with the DNGB (German Sustainability Council) Gold Standard.
The new facility is part of the Roadmap 2025 strategy, which was announced last November and details how the Schaeffler Group will sustainably strengthen its future readiness and competitive position.
“The central laboratory complex will secure high-tech jobs in key growth areas,” noted Schaeffler CEO, Klaus Rosenfeld. “It will also add value to Herzogenaurach and the surrounding region in the eyes of customers and employees and underscores our commitment to Germany as a business location.”
