Schaeffler starts producing steering ball screws at Xiangtan factory

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On February 21, Schaeffler officially put steering ball screws into production at its Xiangtan manufacturing facility in China's Hunan province, according to a post on the company's WeChat account.

These ball screws, a core mechanical component of electric power steering (EPS) systems, play a crucial role in vehicle steering performance. The new production line further strengthens Schaeffler's manufacturing footprint in China, enhancing its ability to meet the demands of local customers and drive business growth.

Schaeffler's ball screw products; photo credit: Schaeffler

Schaeffler has extensive experience in designing and mass-producing ball screws. As early as 2007, the company began manufacturing ball screws for steering systems, becoming the world's first supplier to introduce them into large-scale applications in automobiles. Over nearly two decades, Schaeffler has expanded the use of its ball screws beyond steering systems to braking systems, engines, and transmissions, with cumulative global production exceeding 100 million units. Since 2015, the company has been manufacturing ball screws for braking systems at its Taicang facility, with total output surpassing 50 million units already.

In the steering sector, Schaeffler has long supplied automakers with key components, including steering system bearings and ball screws. Leveraging its expertise in mechatronics and steer-by-wire technologies, the company continues to expand its product portfolio into more complex system solutions.

In addition to precision mechanical components, Schaeffler has also developed and mass-produced electrohydraulic power steering systems (e2HPS) for commercial vehicles and rear-wheel steering (RWS) systems. Furthermore, the company is accelerating the mass production of steer-by-wire components and complete systems.