BUHL, July 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Schaeffler celebrated the 50th birthday of its LuK brand at its location in Buhl on June 25, 2015. The exhibition "The LuK Story. 50 years. Quality. Technology. Innovation" was opened during a special ceremony on June 20, 2015 with around 100 invited guests, including the state of Baden-Württemberg's Chief Minister Winfried Kretschmann.
Schaeffler shareholder Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler-Thumann remembered the entrepreneurial achievements of Georg Schaeffler. She said: "The Schaeffler brothers recognized the opportunities presented at the beginning of the 1960s by the then new diaphragm spring clutch and took on this great entrepreneurial venture and overcame the associated challenges with a highly motivated team." In April 1965, production started for the first time at today's LuK headquarters in Bühl. LuK is now an integral part of the Schaeffler Group. Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO of Schaeffler AG, said: "Two years ago, we analyzed the megatrends and developed the Mobility for tomorrow strategy concept. We could not credibly implement the Schaeffler Group's strategy concept without LuK's outstanding expertise in transmission technology." Norbert Indlekofer, CEO Automotive of Schaeffler AG, started his career 25 years ago at LuK in Buhl. During the ceremony, he said: "We are very proud of our employees worldwide, who have made a decisive contribution to this success story, and we would like to thank the Schaeffler shareholders for their trust and the opportunity to work on long-term projects." This long-term approach, which is particularly characteristic of family-owned companies like Schaeffler, is one of the essential prerequisites for being innovative and successful, adds Indlekofer.
Making company history come to life
The exhibition "The LuK Story. 50 years. Quality. Technology. Innovation" makes the company history of Schaeffler's LuK brand come to life. In five topic areas, the company provides its employees, customers and technophiles a historic, exciting and technically well-founded look at the innovations, which at the time of their development played a decisive role in the further development of mobility.
The company's story of success started with the corporate decision taken by the brothers Dr. Georg and Dr. Wilhelm Schaeffler to make a significant investment in the company "Lamellen- und Kupplungsbau August Haussermann" and to subsequently found LuK. The first manufacturing plant was built within only six months and LuK was already supplying diaphragm spring clutches to VW in mid-1965 – 25,000 units per month of a technology, which was relatively new in Europe. As the world's largest needle roller bearing manufacturer at that time, the "Industriewerke Schaeffler" was entrusted by Volkswagen to quickly develop high-volume production. Schaeffler ensured it had the expertise required for the production of the ET 12, this was the designation of the component, by investing in "LuK Haussermann". This investment laid the foundation for success.
Success driven by innovations
The "Gallery of Innovations" is the heart of the exhibition, which marks the 50th anniversary celebrations. The exhibition explores six key innovations from the company's history, which include the diaphragm spring clutch, the dual mass flywheel, the self-adjusting clutch, the CVT components, the double clutch transmission, and the integrated torque converter. In the mid-1960s, the diaphragm spring clutch replaced the coil spring clutch, and in the mid-1980s, the dual mass flywheel (DMF) made driving with a turbo-diesel engine more enjoyable in terms of acoustics. From the mid-nineties, the self-adjusting clutch reduced the amount of pedal force in vehicles with increasing torque, and from 2000 onwards, the CVT enabled more relaxed driving with automatic transmissions. The wobbling Elvis doll designed for an advertising campaign is still somewhat of a legend to this day. The fact that there aren't enough vibrations to cause the hips of the dancing Elvis doll to shake is evidence of the enthusiasm for the "Multitronic" transmission, which Audi brought to the market at this time. The LuK variator and the multi-link chain provide driving comfort that, until now, customers would never have thought possible. Even during the introductory phase, the automobile manufacturers in Ingolstadt were delivering almost every second A6 2.8 with a CVT transmission.
At the beginning of 2008, the volume production of the dry double clutch set new standards with regard to driving comfort and reductions in fuel consumption, and this year, a completely revised, lighter generation of converters with lower vibration levels will be introduced with the newly-developed integrated torque converter. A central feature of the newly-developed torque converter system is a lockup clutch integrated in the torque converter turbine. With the integration of the lockup clutch, the system is not only lighter, it also creates space for more efficient torsion dampers, such as the centrifugal pendulum-type absorber also developed by LuK. This can again significantly improve vibration isolation.
Matthias Zink, President Transmission Systems Business Division at Schaeffler is convinced that the Gallery of Innovations will also continue in the future, and had this to say: "Our pursuit of innovations is ongoing. At Schaeffler, we have an unconditional desire to continue to develop our technological progress". Development engineers are currently working on solutions for "mobility for tomorrow". Two years ago, a new development department was opened in Bühl. This is where the development of hybrid drives takes place.
About Schaeffler
The Schaeffler Group is a leading global integrated automotive and industrial supplier. The company stands for the highest quality, outstanding technology and strong innovative ability. The Schaeffler Group makes a decisive contribution to "mobility for tomorrow" with high-precision components and systems in engine, transmission and chassis applications as well as rolling and plain bearing solutions for a large number of industrial applications. The company generated sales of approximately 12.1 billion Euros in 2014. With more than 82,000 employees worldwide, Schaeffler is one of Europe's largest technology companies in family ownership. It has a worldwide network of manufacturing locations, research and development facilities and sales companies at approximately 170 locations in 50 countries.
About Schaeffler Greater China
Since its investment in China in 1995, Schaeffler Greater China has established a comprehensive customer service system and built up competitive advantages in manufacturing, sales, R&D, aftermarket and technical support. Schaeffler's products are widely used in China's automotive industry and industrial market, contributing added value to customers. Currently, Schaeffler Greater China has over 10,000 employees; one R&D center in Anting, seven plants in Taicang, Suzhou, Yinchuan and Nanjing; and twenty sales offices nationwide including in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Upholding the strategy of "in the region, for the region", Schaeffler Greater China is committed to providing products at the best quality and zero distance services to customers, and contributing to the sustainable development of the Group and society. Website of Schaeffler Greater China: www.schaeffler.cn
Contact:
Mr. TIAN Hui
Communications and Marketing
Schaeffler Greater China
1 Antuo Road, Anting, Jiading District
Shanghai, China PR, 201804
General Line: +86 21 3957 6666
Phone: +86 21 3957 6882
Fax: +86 21 3959 3230
E-mail: hui.tian@schaeffler.com
Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150702/0861505932-a
Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150702/0861505932-b
