Schaeffler Group acquires machine data company

Schaeffler Group has announced its acquisition of autinity GmbH, an IT company that specialises in machine data recording and evaluation.

“Condition monitoring of machinery and equipment as well as digital networking in production are of great interest to both Schaeffler’s internal and external customers throughout Australia and New Zealand,” Schaeffler Australia Industrial Services Manager Mark Ciechanowicz said.

These include key Schaeffler Australia markets, among them mining and energy production (including wind power and mineral processing); food, beverage and primary processing; bulk materials handling; and broader industrial and road and rail machinery systems.

The purchase of 100% of autinity shares, completed this month, is an important step in implementing Schaeffler’s global and local digital agenda, with autinity systems GmbH specialising in digital condition monitoring and machine data recording.

“Schaeffler has been using software solutions by autinity for many years now. The acquisition of this company will help us to intensify our collaboration and accelerate further developments in the fields of machine data recording and condition monitoring,” said Ciechanowicz. “Both topics are essential elements of Schaeffler’s digital agenda, and are in strong demand both from internal and external customers.”

The availability of machine data and the near-real-time recording thereof, as well as storage and analysis, is important for the digitalisation of production. For this reason, Schaeffler is focusing on technically simple and scalable integration of machines and equipment into a digital ecosystem. Moreover, available analysis technologies are to be made applicable to production data.

As part of its ‘mobility for tomorrow’ strategy, Schaeffler has defined digitalisation as a core future opportunity. Establishing internal structures, the partnership with IBM, the cooperation with the Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (SHARE at FAU), the active involvement in the industrial data space in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute and the takeover of autinity are important components in implementing Schaeffler’s digital agenda. Schaeffler is currently working on 30 digitalisation projects. The number of projects is planned to double by next year.

Schaeffler is shaping the digital transformation with a clear vision and specific solutions highly relevant to Australian industry, Ciechanowicz said. With systems such as its Smart EcoSystem, Schaeffler is offering a consistent hardware and software infrastructure — from sensorised components to digital services and business models.