Passion for technology and innovation is a key part of our DNA.

– Harsha Kadam

MD & CEO – Schaeffler India & President, Industrial Business

How do you rate your company’s journey so far and what do you think are the major factors contributing to your success saga in the industry?

We are world’s leading and diversified supplier for Industrial and Automotive products and systems. As a leader, we have been driving groundbreaking inventions and developments in the fields of motion and mobility for over 70 years generating compelling value proposition for our customers. Our high quality, innovative products deliver that extra-mile value and differentiates the overall offering as a product or system solution. We continue to pioneer motion in both automotive and industry verticals through innovation, sustainability, and digitalization. Our products speak for themselves with the highest precision and quality across competition. We have a strong production base and are working to further expand our portfolio in India. Our expertise in core engineering fields and renewable energy sector gives us an edge in the market. We have recently added bearing refurbishment services to our product value chain through the inauguration of refurbishment center in Jamshedpur which is also a step forward towards our pledge to become carbon neutral by 2040. Our success saga is evident at our very foundation with a clear focus to enable sustainable mobility and motion through innovation, agility, and efficiency.

What has been the shift in buying patterns from the end-user segment?

The pandemic had without doubt affected everyone and the manufacturing sector was no exception. The period witnessed unforeseen situations which affected businesses adversely. However, as businesses gradually emerged from pandemic, we witnessed a mass adoption of automation technologies such as robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Internet of Things (IoT) in industry. At Schaeffler, the customer centricity has been of utmost importance for us, and we have continued to closely engage with our customers at all times. Our capability to predict and forecast fast-changing customer needs, our mental preparedness towards the impending changes and our agility in responding to those changes ahead of the competition have helped us to stand in good stead.

Tell us about the technological trends in your range of products?

Passion for technology and innovation is a key part of our DNA. In the face of rapid technological progress, we place high emphasis on delivering value in terms of high-quality products and innovative solutions to our customers. Our industry ecosystem is continuously changing with emerging trends such as the cloud, Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) which offer huge potential to customers.

Guided by our overarching principals for digitalization – Innovation, Agility, and Efficiency, we at Schaeffler are continuously integrating these trends in our portfolio, thus extending the range of scalable automated and digital services. A few examples of these are:

CONCEPT Lubricator series: Concept lubricators are smart automatic lubrication systems engineered for rolling bearings. These systems can automatically supply the correct quantity of lubricant at the right time. Re-lubrication at correct quantities at appropriate intervals increases the operating life of rolling bearings.

OPTIME: Another good example is OPTIME, our application solution for automated, sensor-controlled condition monitoring of industrial plant and equipment. OPTIME has state-of-the-art technologies such as algorithms for machine learning, cloud analytics, and a flexible mesh network. The innovative condition monitoring solution has also won the prestigious Red Dot Award highlighting the outstanding product design, functional configuration, and high level of innovation. From intelligent components to cloud – Schaeffler offers scalable high-performance technology solutions that are tailored for hassle-free usage for our customers.

PREMESY: Another example of our technology and innovation in the wind segment is PREMESY, Schaeffler’s preload measurement system, which has been awarded Smart Technology Innovation of the Year, at the Wind Future Award 2021.

TRIFINITY: Recently, in the automotive sector we announced the launch of our high-performance bearings, Trifinity, for the E-mobility segment.

What differentiates your company from other competitive players in the industry?

Schaeffler is a leading automotive and industrial supplier worldwide catering to diverse industry verticals. As the technology landscape continues to undergo rapid changes, we at Schaeffler have been preparing to stay ahead by adding new capabilities that will allow us to serve our customers better. We have made strategic acquisitions in the emerging technology areas such as Electric Vehicle (EV) and continue to develop Hydrogen technology at group level, including fuel cells and electrolyzers for green hydrogen production. As a leader in technology, we combine our passion for innovation with the highest standards of quality to shape the future of mobility and motion. We closely collaborate with our customers to deliver a compelling value proposition which acts as a key differentiator for us.

What is your insight on your company’s road map for next three years?

Schaeffler group have been operating in the country since 1962 and are proud to have contributed to India’s success story so far. With high local demand and strong fundamentals, Indian economy has huge potential to grow. Taking cognizance of this, Schaeffler has recently invested towards new plant expansion and a technology center for developing mechatronics solution in India. These investments coupled with our aggressive R&D and localization efforts reflect our commitment towards Indian self-sufficiency and growth story. Schaeffler is working on new technology products such as EVs, Hydrogen power among others. We were recently selected for Product Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme by the government which may be leveraged to add new capacities in the relevant product space. Going forward we will continue to strengthen our local R&D, innovation, and manufacturing capabilities, and will play a major role in driving India’s ‘Atmanirbhar’ journey.

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