R&D Centre Opened, New Plant unveiled Schaeffler emphasizes China Position

German Schaeffler Group, a family-owned globally leading bearing and automotive supplier, today opened  its new R&D center in Anting, Shanghai, and its new factory is unveiled in Taicang on the same day. Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler and her son Georg  F.W. Schaeffler, partners of the Schaeffler Group, together with Dr. Jürgen M. Geissinger, President and CEO Schaeffler Group, inaugurated the modern R&D center in the presence of prominent personalities from government and the economy with a traditional ribbon cutting ceremony.

The centre located in "the automotive town" in the northwest suburb of Shanghai, and will also become the Asia Pacific headquarters for the multinational company, which is presently with a total of three manufacturing locations and 11 sales offices all over China. German Schaeffler Group started the construction of 21,000-meter-square new Schaeffler R&D center in 2005, with the total investment of 220 million RMB. The new building offers laboratories, workshops, administration, a centre of competence and a modern automotive showroom, showing products in a range of applications for the automotive, industry and aerospace sectors.

In the beginning a total of close to 100 engineers will focus on the adoption of state-of-the-art know how for products for the Asian markets. In the near future it is planned that R&D staff in Anting is to be extended to more than 250 engineers as part of the worldwide network of Schaeffler R&D centers. Meanwhile, equipped with the most advanced testing, calculation and simulation facilities, the R&D center will provide in-time and reliable examination results for its customers, Chinese and international companies form the automotive and industrial sector.

Being amongst the largest production facilities of Schaeffler Group in the world, the new 110,000 square meter facility introduces most recent production technologies. Production focus is on needle bearings, large size bearings at a high value added production depth, featuring every manufacturing step from the steel coil right through the finished bearing. Also manufactured are wheel bearings based on advanced concepts as well as other key transmission and engine components for vehicles. The set-up of the new plant will ensure that the vast demand for bearings for industrial applications and sophisticated systems for the automotive industry in the Chinese market can be met.

With approx. 63,000 employees at more than 180 locations worldwide and consolidated sales of €8.3bn (2006), Schaeffler Group is a leading global bearing manufacturer and automotive component supplier. Group members are Schaeffler KG with its brands INA and FAG and LuK.