New owner plans to continue operations at the site with all employees

Further growth potential with new owner

Planned sale congruent with Schaeffler’s portfolio strategy

Global automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler has signed a contract to sell the Clausthal-Zellerfeld site to ift-whitecell engineering gmbh, a subsidiary of Whitecell Power AG. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021 and is subject to the fulfillment of all official licenses and other closing conditions. The parties have agreed not to disclose the financial details of the transaction.

In recent years, Schaeffler has expanded its expertise in customized test rig services at the Clausthal-Zellerfeld site and, in particular, for the automotive sector. The facilities at the site primarily comprise test rigs for powertrains, combustion engines and car components.

?The proximity to the university and the connections to the automotive industry, which have been developed over many years, have made the Clausthal-Zellerfeld site an ideal match for our group of companies. We intend to use our innovative technologies here on site to develop new approaches to sustainable, CO2-neutral mobility, " says David L. Deck, Initiator and Board Member of Whitecell Power AG, which is based in Stetten in the Swiss canton of Aargau. In addition, the new owner’s medium-term plans for the Clausthal-Zellerfeld site include the development of production concepts for future technologies, such as modules for a new generation of fuel cells. Schaeffler plans to continue maintaining business relationships with the then former site. The new owner has announced that all employees will be retained by the company.

Gregor Pradela, Managing Director of Schaeffler Engineering GmbH, the company to which the Clausthal-Zellerfeld belongs, says: ?We are delighted to have found a buyer for the Clausthal-Zellerfeld site whose technology concept is an ideal match for both the existing facilities and the corresponding employee know-how. With additional reference to the structures and corporate culture, we are convinced that the subsequent transfer of operations will offer substantial advantages for everyone involved.”

The site on Sachsenweg in Clausthal-Zellerfeld was acquired by Schaeffler in full in 2013 and subsequently expanded as part of the Research and Development function. The takeover and subsequent realignment by ift-whitecell engineering gmbh will now open up new growth prospects for the site.