Under the leadership of Rauli Hantikainen, Head of Industry 4.0, the Schaeffler Group is coming up with new solutions for digitized industrial production. The company based in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, which generated sales of around 14 billion euros in 2017, expects positive effects on its own development: it expects Industry 4.0 offers to account for around 10% of its industrial division profits by 2023. To this end Schaeffler plans to develop new mechatronic rotary and linear products, digital services and data-based business models.

The company's current projects include cloud-based monitoring of ancillary equipment in cooperation with a service provider, a solution to inspect and lubricate the operational equipment of a drinking water supplier, and a digital service that predicts the service life of roller bearings in wind turbine gearboxes . Further condition monitoring and predictive maintenance solutions to improve the operational efficiency, productivity and service life of the production facilities of Schaeffler customers are in the pipeline.