Schaeffler lays foundation stone for central laboratory

Schaeffler has laid the foundation stone for its state-of-the-art central laboratory at its Herzogenaurach campus. Despite the challenging environment, the company is going ahead with this €80m future-oriented project, which will be completed in 2023.

“For Schaeffler, the central laboratory is of crucial importance in ensuring that the company’s competitiveness and success are also sustained in the future,” says Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO of Schaeffler AG.

“The new building will enable Schaeffler to bundle its core expertise and key technologies in the field of research and development and will also strengthen Herzogenaurach as headquarters of the Schaeffler Group. The central laboratory is a clear commitment to Germany as an economic location and a sign that we want to continue along our strategic path.”   

The cross-divisional central laboratory complex in Herzogenaurach will span more than 17,000 square meters of total floor area and house 15 laboratories and more than 360 employees. “Schaeffler has consistently delivered the highest levels of innovative ability and development excellence,” says Uwe Wagner, chief technology officer of Schaeffler AG. “The central laboratory will allow us to strengthen our expertise in the long term and to shape progress in the automotive and industrial sectors thanks to the solutions which will be developed there. The synergies in the development process will enable Schaeffler to optimize technologies in the future fields e-mobility, hydrogen and renewable energies and to ultimately bring product solutions on to the market even faster.”

The new central laboratory will cover a wide range of topics related to the company’s research and development activities, particularly in key areas of technology, including measurement, testing, and calibration systems, material, chemical, coating and nanotechnologies as well as the optimisation of operating life and system reliability. The focus here is on material, chemical, coating and nanotechnologies with the corresponding high resolution measurement technologies (metrology, chemistry, physics, electronics, and analysis).    

Professor Tim Hosenfeldt, head of corporate research and innovation, says: “The central laboratory will encompass a unique range of services that combine analysis methods and specialist expertise, and will enable us to increase our innovative strength and speed. The building sets new standards in terms of laboratory conditions, which will enable, for example, high-resolution analytics and measurement technologies as well as the tailored development of materials.”