AFT Becomes Schaeffler Engineering; Strengthens Position as a Recognized Development Partner with Systems Expertise

TROY, Mich., Feb. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Schaeffler subsidiary Atlas Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH (AFT) will change its company name to Schaeffler Engineering GmbH, effective March 1, 2013. The renaming of the development service provider is a part of AFT's new corporate strategy and global course for growth as an engineering service provider and worldwide mechatronic systems specialist.

AFT's closer integration provides Schaeffler with more comprehensive development and service capacities and allows the company to offer its customers more personalized support from system integration in the drive train and in the vehicle through volume production. To support Schaeffler's North American automotive customers, Schaeffler Engineering's Troy, Mich. and Mexico City facilities are slated to provide product development mechatronic engineering expertise to meet market-specific demands.

"An engineering service provider has to be where development is taking place, especially in the future," said Rolf Laufs, CEO of AFT/Schaeffler Engineering. "This is why we are following a global course for growth under our new name and our systems expertise in the mechatronics sector will be even more widely available in the new markets. In the decisive R&D areas of drive systems, drive components, electrical systems, electronics and the corresponding software development – particularly with a focus on the electrification of the drive train – we have the expertise and the necessary project experience that OEMs and suppliers seek."

According to Laufs, the assessment of the initial position for the company's global commitment is positive. Under its new name, the development service provider will continue to operate independently and increase its level of external activity in addition to company projects. The company can count on the support of its parent company during its entry into new markets, just as it can in conjunction with the planned long-term expansion of its activities into other industrial sectors.

"Schaeffler Engineering offers outstanding, sustainable services and products and has proven expertise at its disposal – particularly in the areas of mechatronics and system development, but also in transmission development, vehicle acoustics, prototype construction and the low-volume production of electronic control units and measuring systems," said Prof. Dr. Peter Gutzmer, Member of the Executive Board and CTO, Schaeffler AG. "Its expertise has already been successfully used in customer projects, such as control systems for gas engines and in company projects focusing on various concept vehicles for efficient future mobility. In the future, further expansion of this expertise will provide even more opportunities for cooperation throughout the company and for acquiring attractive customer projects."

AFT, founded in 1979 in Werdohl, Germany and integrated into the Schaeffler Group in 2004, develops and supplies mechatronic systems, conventional and alternative transmission and drive systems, vehicle integration, mobile measurement equipment and analysis and optimization of vehicle acoustics. The company's core expertise ranges from rapid control prototyping, designing customer-specific hardware and software, series applications, calculation, designing and developing prototype and volume-production applications, measuring technology integration, acoustics and vibration analyses, and supplying small production runs with volume production support.

"I am glad that we are integrating Schaeffler Engineering more strongly into Schaeffler AG's corporate strategy," said Dr. Juergen M. Geissinger, CEO of Schaeffler AG. "In the long term, having our own engineering service provider will allow us to strengthen our position as a recognized development partner with systems expertise for the entire drive train and for complex industrial applications."

About Schaeffler
With its product brands INA, LuK and FAG, Schaeffler is a leading provider of rolling and plain bearing solutions, and linear and direct drive technology, as well as a renowned supplier of high-precision products and systems for engines, transmissions and chassis applications to the automotive industry. The global group of companies generated sales of approximately 10.7 billion Euro in 2011. With approximately 74,000 employees worldwide, Schaeffler is one of the largest German and European industrial companies in family ownership. With 180 locations in more than 50 countries, Schaeffler has a worldwide network of manufacturing locations, research and development facilities, sales companies, engineering offices and training centers.

To serve the North American automotive market, Schaeffler operates development centers in: Troy, Mich.; Fort Mill, S.C.; Wooster, Ohio; and Puebla, Mexico. The company's 400 North American engineers and technicians, who are supported by a team of more than 5,500 global engineers, drive development in the region utilizing state-of-the-art test and measurement equipment, computational tools and CAD systems. Schaeffler Automotive has headquarters in Fort Mill and manufacturing facilities in: South Carolina; Missouri; Ohio; Ontario, Canada; Puebla and Irapuato, Mexico. For more information, please visit www.schaeffler.us.

About AFT
Atlas Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH (AFT), a Schaeffler Group company, is an international provider of mechatronic system development services in the drive train, vehicle testing, and mobile measuring technology. The company's range of services also includes the analysis and optimization of vehicle acoustics and the development of conventional and alternative transmission and drive systems. The company's core expertise ranges from rapid control prototyping, designing customer-specific hardware and software, series applications, calculation, designing and developing prototype and volume-production applications, measuring technology integration, acoustics and vibration analyses, and supplying small production runs with volume production support.

SOURCE Schaeffler