Debrecen4U July 4, 2025

Schaeffler Debrecen reaches another milestone with the launch of a new facility test run

The company is preparing to manufacture single-row deep groove ball bearings—critical components for hybrid and fully electric vehicle drivetrains—using two state-of-the-art production cells. Full-scale production is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2026.

On Thursday morning, nearly 300 employees gathered in the factory courtyard to mark the occasion with a commemorative team photo, celebrating this important step in the company’s journey.

Development continues in full swing at Schaeffler. The new facility’s two manufacturing cells will significantly enhance production capacity, enabling the introduction of four new product variants. The upcoming bearings are notable for their universal applicability, making them essential for a wide range of automotive uses. Within just a few years, they are expected to support the movement of millions of hybrid and electric vehicles worldwide.

“Our bearings are unique in that they represent the highest quality class within the ball bearing product group. This means that they represent the highest quality and the highest performance in the most sophisticated and latest application technology,” Tibor Dáné, Head of Engineering, said.

Construction of the new facility began earlier this year. Trial batch production has already started in the cell with greater capacity, while test operations in the second cell are scheduled to start in October.

“The test run is expected to last until the end of November when we will finish the sample production. In December, we should deliver the so-called zero series production to our customers, and this will help us to start production of the new types of single-row deep groove ball bearings in Debrecen in the first quarter of 2026,” Dezső Szentpéteri, Head of the Project Management Office, explained.

Beyond technological advancement, Schaeffler places a strong emphasis on talent development. Over the past fifteen years, hundreds of university students have built their professional foundations within the company. Their collective success earned Schaeffler Debrecen the ‘Excellent Training Partner’ award from the University of Debrecen.

Source: dehir.hu | Facebook (Papp László)