Surface Technology Gives Schaeffler a Competitive Advantage. Modular Systems with a Standardized Approach Offer Numerous Options for a Wide Range of Sectors.
Added value through functional coatings
The functional requirements for components used in different sectors are increasing all the time. This applies equally to automotive engineering and rail vehicles, wind power, and aerospace applications. The basic material is almost always pushed to the limit of its endurance. The correct use of coatings means that higher requirements can be fulfilled in terms of corrosion and wear protection, the minimization of friction, electrical insulation and, soon, even sensor technology. It is therefore no surprise that coatings are an important design and product element that represents a clear competitive advantage for Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG today.
Schaefflers Surface Technology Center has developed a modular system that includes around 20 validated coating solutions down to just a few microns and thus offers the right solution for every type of requirement. To produce the coating systems, the specialists in the various business units worldwide have a range of procedures at their disposal, including spraying, painting, galvanic and chemical deposition, physical deposition from the gas phase (PVD), and plasma-assisted deposition from the gas phase (PACVD).
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Gutzmer, CTO and Member of the Executive Board of Schaeffler AG, summarizes the significance of surface technology for product development: For Schaeffler today, coatings are a design and product element that is inextricably linked to our high quality requirements and represents a clear competitive advantage. Coating technology reflects Schaeffler's three main basic principles quality, continuous improvement, and consistent innovative thinking. That is why this technology is so well suited to us.
At Schaeffler, automotive engineering is currently the area in which coating technology is most frequently employed, particularly when it comes to valve train components like tappets and pivot elements. The coating reduces the friction that occurs in contact with the camshaft by up to 50 percent and thus also reduces fuel consumption. Electric drives, on which Schaeffler is also working intensively, have completely different requirements when it comes to coatings, however. Ceramic insulating coatings made of aluminum oxide protect the various components from the electric current. The strong currents could otherwise cause the metals to melt, the oil to age extremely quickly and, ultimately, lead to bearing failure.
Even higher currents occur in electric rail vehicles, which means that providing insulation is the coatings most important task in these applications. Corrosion and wear protection, as well as the reduction of friction, are also important parameters in rail vehicles. These allow the function of the bearing to be ensured even when it is poorly lubricated, and corrosion in axlebox bearings, for example has little chance to do any damage despite the presence of moisture and dirt.
Rolling bearings with outside diameters of up to four meters are used in wind turbines. The most important tasks for coatings in the wind power sector are reducing friction and providing both a high slippage tolerance in the event of a sudden turbine start-up and insulation to protect against the passage of electric current. Solutions from Schaeffler include generator bearings that feature a glass fiber coating dipped in epoxy resin, which protect against the passage of current for voltages as high as 20,000 V.
The Aerospace business unit is governed by extremely high safety requirements. All of the most important aircraft manufacturers place their trust in Schaeffler when it comes to engine bearings. Airbus did just that with their flagship A380 airplane. Schaeffler is responsible for the main shaft bearings used on the three shafts of the A380's engines and numerous rotationally symmetrical components, which feature up to five different coatings.
The demands made of these coatings are on the rise, as Dr. Tim Hosenfeldt, Director of Schaefflers Surface Technology Center, explains: The increasing prevalence of mechatronic systems naturally means that new demands are being placed on the coatings, such as the need for sensor-related properties for data collection and signal processing. The Sensotect coating system allows components to be made into sensors, or sensors into components. The rolling bearing, which is coated to a thickness of just a few microns, then also records and transmits physical values such as torques, forces, expansion, and temperatures in addition to transferring forces. This allows the bearing loads in a car's transmission or wheel bearing, for example to be continuously measured and monitored. This additional information is becoming more and more important in the light of current trends.
Peter Gutzmer, Member of the Executive Board, also sees great potential in sensor technology: Advance development has produced very positive results thus far. This will be the next stage of functional development. I am very optimistic that Schaeffler will, in the foreseeable future, be offering rolling bearings that measure and transmit data using a sensor coating.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
04/06/2026
Sony Electronics is introducing the SRG-AS10, a 4K 60p-compatible PTZ auto-frami...
04/06/2026
This recent grad from Spring, TX, led creative-video output for the Aggies' men's basketball team last season and has been producing video and creating ...
04/06/2026
For the first time at a women's golf major, every player in the field will r...
04/06/2026
Three Panasonic PT-RQ45 40,000-lumen 3-Chip DLP projectors made their first live...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin and Akamai have announced a collaboration with NRJ Group, a French mult...
04/06/2026
Telestream will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N7952), demonstrating media work...
04/06/2026
Sony has announced the development of RIALTO 65, a 65mm format image sensor block for the VENICE 2 digital cinema camera, targeting release in the first half of...
04/06/2026
KOKUSAI DENKI Electric America will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N8025, June ...
04/06/2026
Bell Media's TSN and RDS are the exclusive Canadian broadcasters of FIFA Wor...
04/06/2026
The Challenge: Receiving Heavy Media Files From Road Games Quickly and ReliablyT...
04/06/2026
MASV, a managed file transfer platform used in broadcast and live sports product...
04/06/2026
NESN has announced the appointment of Fahad Haider as Vice President of Operations and Engineering. Haider returns to NESN, where he previously served as Vice P...
04/06/2026
David J. Halberstam, who spent almost 50 years in sports as a broadcaster and an executive, died June 2 after a years-long battle with brain cancer.
Over his l...
04/06/2026
Although collegiate production programs are tasked with delivering high-quality ...
04/06/2026
California studio, two production trucks, global distribution system are combine...
04/06/2026
New global program empowers and supports storytellers through scriptwriting course and access to industry experts
TikTok and Sundance Institute today announce...
04/06/2026
Steinberg DAWs now boast in-depth Tonalic integration
Celemony's innovative virtual session musician plug-in has just received an update that brings ARA...
04/06/2026
Get Hands-On With Over 20 Mic Brands
GearExpo UK is fast approaching, and if you've been looking for a chance to check out some new mics, then you'r...
04/06/2026
Combos feature new Amplifier Intelligence engine
Positive Grid's latest release sees the company introduce two new combo amplifiers that promise to offe...
04/06/2026
Is Your Job Making You Work this June?
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Launches the World Cup Watchers' Rights Association to Stand Up For Australians&...
04/06/2026
Statement regarding unauthorised use of SBS logos on third party social content
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has become aware of social media posts in c...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin, a leading provider of video streaming infrastructure, and Akamai, the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business onli...
04/06/2026
American Underground (AU), the Startup Hub of the South and a community of mor...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
NVIDIA and Microsoft Reinvent Windows PCs for the Age of Personal AI
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
RTX Spark - a 1-Petaflop Superchip, the Full...
04/06/2026
Inside the Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Grade
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Simone Grattarola discusses shaping the look in DaVinci Resolve...
04/06/2026
Cine Gear Expo Announces 2026 Awards of Excellence Recipients
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Ed Lachman ASC, Caleb Deschanel ASC, and M. David M...
04/06/2026
St. Vincents Live with Orchestra Tour to Feature Berklee Alum Ruby Plume Berklee alumni St. Vincent and Ruby Plume will appear on the same bill across seven d...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
All the Truth in My Lies Coming to Netflix on August 28
Entertainment
04 June 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Download the imag...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
Larry Tanz, VP of Content, EMEA, Delivers a Keynote Speech at ...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
Turn Your Living Room into a Stadium With the New FIFA World ...
04/06/2026
Keeping conversations real on LinkedIn Published on Jun 4, 2026 Categories: Product News
LinkedIn Corporate Communications
Share
LinkedIn
Facebook ...
04/06/2026
BackStory follows four Irish young people as they travel back to their parents' homelands
Modern Irish identity is enriched by cultures and influences from...
04/06/2026
June's forecast with GeForce NOW: 100% chance of gaming.
GeForce NOW is lining up new adventures for the month, from big-name blockbusters to quirky indies...
03/06/2026
SES and Viva, Mexico's ultra low-cost airline, have launched multi-orbit satellite inflight connectivity on Viva's Airbus aircraft. A total of 60 A320s ...
03/06/2026
The College Football Playoff, ESPN, and TNT Sports have announced kick times and...
03/06/2026
RED Digital Cinema will exhibit at Cine Gear Expo 2026 (Booth 33, June 5-6, Universal Studios Lot), hosting three panels and hands-on product demonstrations.
P...
03/06/2026
Roku has announced the Soccer Zone, a dedicated hub for FIFA World Cup 2026 content available across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argent...
Surface Technology Gives Schaeffler a Competitive Advantage. Modular Systems with a Standardized Approach Offer Numerous Options for a Wide Range of Sectors.
