Schaeffler enters the defense industry and cooperates with a drone manufacturer. This should benefit defense capabilities and jobs.
The drone manufacturer Helsing and the Franconian automotive supplier Schaeffler are entering into a cooperation. Both companies signed a declaration of intent at the so-called Armaments Summit in Berlin, which is aimed at joint cooperation. The aim of the measure is to expand Helsing's drone production and to utilize Schaeffler's expertise in the manufacture and procurement of electronic components as well as in securing critical supply chains.
The cooperation with the Munich-based software company is also a strategic decision by Schaeffler to position itself more strongly in the defense market, as the automotive industry is currently suffering from a crisis. Those responsible at the traditional Herzogenaurach-based company have been looking at the defense industry as a possible new field of activity for some time.
Defense industry: Schaeffler enters into cooperation with drone manufacturer Helsing
"I am confident that we will arrive at a strategy in the coming weeks and months," explained Schaeffler CEO Klaus Rosenfeld in a television interview with the news channel ntv in June of this year. The CEO emphasized that this was nevertheless a task that would have to be carried out in cooperation with politicians. "As a company, we have a mission and also a certain obligation to help ensure that defense capability is restored," said Rosenfeld.
The planned collaboration with the drone manufacturer Helsing has now been announced. "German automotive suppliers can scale like no other industry and provide rapid support in building resilient supply chains," said Helsing co-founder and Co-CEO Gundbert Scherf in an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ). "The collaboration with Schaeffler enables us to achieve fast and reliable mass production."
Schaeffler's CEO spoke of an important first step "to expand our commitment in the defense sector. We are relying on our proven expertise and innovative strength in the field of industrial manufacturing. In this way, we want to make a contribution to strengthening Germany's defense capability and at the same time ensure employment," said Rosenfeld.
Up to 20,000 drones per year - these are Schaeffler's tasks
Schaeffler is currently affected by the crisis in the automotive industry, which is one of the company's most important customers. Helsing CEO Scherf announced that the company intends to produce 10,000 to 20,000 drones next year and could even produce up to 100,000 units in an emergency. Automotive suppliers, who are currently suffering from the crisis in the industry, are to be involved as partners.
The cooperation with Schaeffler includes the production and procurement of important electronic components, the joint safeguarding of critical supply chains (e.g. for semiconductors and raw materials) and support in drone production. However, the main responsibility for drone production remains with Helsing in Munich. According to Helsing, the collaboration was only initiated eight weeks ago - the agreement was therefore reached very quickly.
