The sci-fi movie “Back to the Future” came out almost 40 years ago, but it has by no means lost its cult status. The very final scene in particular is now legendary: “Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads,” says Doc Brown as he and Marty McFly lift off. A couple of mid-air fiery streaks later and the two time travelers find themselves in the future. It’s 2015 and the skyscape is full of flying cars.

Our reality today has little to do with what we once thought the future would look like. While our cars remain on the ground rather than flying, the world is looking for ways to replace fossil fuels and make mobility more environmentally friendly. However, what the film showed back then and what we now know for sure is that internal combustion engines have had their day. The future is most likely electric, among other alternative forms of propulsion, and low-CO2.

GF has been working towards this future for many years. It develops and produces innovative and sustainable solutions such as lightweight cast components to reduce the weight of vehicles or machine tools for making automotive components – for mobility that’s fit for the future. All around the world, companies in the automotive and supplier sectors count on GF’s expertise.

One of these is Schaeffler, a global supplier to the automotive and industrial sectors, which is pursuing its Roadmap 2025 to bolster the development of future mobility solutions. Last year, GF provided Schaeffler Group with ten milling machines, twelve wire EDM machines and three linear automation cells, as well as System 3R Tooling packages, among others. Schaeffler will use these in the manufacture of tools for automotive components, including electric motors. “At the new location, we are utilizing modern development and production technologies that make optimal use of digital processes and significantly increase our efficiency,” says Cyriaque Steffen, who is in charge of construction and management for Schaeffler’s Tool Technology Center. “That’s where GF Machining Solutions is helping us. We get a package of solutions from a single source."

For GF Machining Solutions, this solution package is one of the largest contracts in recent years (see infobox for details). Schaeffler ordered the new milling machines due to their very good experience with similar machines. “We see this as a very strong sign of trust,” says Stephan Eckert, Head of Automation & Product Support at GF Machining Solutions in Schorndorf (Germany) and project manager for Schaeffler. “All of this reflects a strong customer relationship and reliable, partnership-based project work.” Moritz Matthes, Technical Project Manager at GF Machining Solutions, is part of this team and values the solution-oriented interaction. “From the very beginning, I had the feeling that everyone had the same goal and that they were all pulling together,” says Matthes.

The cooperation between Schaeffler and GF stretches back an impressive 40 years. If difficulties ever arose during that time, they were overcome together. For example, in 2018 the team went through an exemplary learning process. In cooperation with Schaeffler, GF planned and implemented measures for improvement. Regular meetings and service calls ensured that machines and automated systems functioned properly again. “In the end, this phase really helped us to move forward together,” says Stephan Eckert. “It is also why we have the privilege of continuing to support Schaeffler with our expertise and new machines.” For Cyriaque Steffen, this mutual openness is the foundation for success. “During our regular meetings, we experience GF as a reliable partner that looks for and finds solutions.”

In the spirit of Going Forward, both partners are now working together with a view to the future. GF Machining Solutions will continue to innovate to support the success of its customers. And GF looks forward to intensifying its partnership with Schaeffler and offering it customized solutions.