Solving the Powertrain Puzzle

DETROIT -- Sept. 30, 2014: To highlight the company's most recent developments in its quest to achieve efficient future mobility, the Schaeffler Group is hosting the Schaeffler Symposium at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit today. The theme for this year's event is "Solving the Powertrain Puzzle," as it addresses one of the hottest areas of automotive development due to the new and upcoming government mandates.

The full-day event will focus on the latest developments in transmissions, with a special focus surrounding the challenges of engine development, through expert presentations, technical sessions, product demonstrations and networking. Kicking off the event is keynote speaker Dean Kamen, inventor, entrepreneur and a tireless advocate for science and technology.

"We're again hosting this once-every-four-year event as a way to share ideas, new thinking and network with our North American customers working to satisfy mandates that are requiring them to rethink their powertrain components and systems," said Jeff Hemphill, chief technology officer, Schaeffler. "Our powertrain experts will present our next-generation research and technologies, developed to address the challenges our customers are facing as they work to balance industry standards and government regulations with consumer requirements, cost targets, and environmental and sustainability goals."

Among the engine and transmission trends being discussed at the Schaeffler Symposium are: fuel economy and comfort; transmission technology trends; innovative solutions for torque converters for the modern powertrain; new developments in planetary transmissions; the company's all-wheel-drive disconnect; CVT (continuously variable transmission) technology; smart and cam phasing; cylinder deactivation; the company's UniAir technology; thermal management; Schaeffler's decoupling tensioner; and new developments in ball bearing technology.

"The technical sessions at this year's Symposium provide our view of what the automotive industry of the future will require to satisfy evolving industry changes and customer preferences," said Bruce Warmbold, CEO, Schaeffler Americas. "With this in mind, we want to present our technologies to our customers as soon as possible to gather feedback and insight. Our symposium is really a forum for collaboration and partnership that's working to drive the future of our automotive industry."

After the technical sessions, attendees will enjoy light refreshments and networking in the Symposium's extensive product exhibition, where guests can see, touch and discuss the presented concepts with Schaeffler experts.

"It's been said that the powertrain is the 'heart' of the transportation industry and is one of the most expensive and complex parts of the vehicle," said Philip George, director, advanced development, Schaeffler North America. "As such, we strive to provide customers with both technologies and systems that allow them to continue evolving this most critical part of future mobility."

The Schaeffler Symposium has its roots in the decades-old LuK tradition of sharing advancements and technology at the LuK Symposium held every four years in Germany, the U.S. and Asia. The Detroit event is the U.S. version of the company's 10th global symposium.