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Schaeffler vs Schmalz
Schaeffler and Schmalz are both core components companies. Their verified profiles differ on headquarters, industry focus, founding year, company size and markets served. The table below sets out only those rows; everything else is on each company's own profile. Facts verified 6 November 2026.
Where they differ
| Company | Schaeffler | Schmalz |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Herzogenaurach, Germany | Glatten, Germany |
| Industry | Components — drivetrain systems and integrated actuators for humanoid and industrial robots | Robot components and end-of-arm tooling — vacuum automation and robotic gripping systems |
| Founded | 1946 | 1910 |
| Company size | Approximately 110,000 employees worldwide (company-stated, 2026; the group was enlarged by the 2024 merger with Vitesco Technologies) | Around 1,800 employees at 31 locations worldwide (company-stated) |
| Markets served | Global; around 200 locations in more than 50 countries, supplying automotive, industrial and robotics customers | Around 70 countries through 31 group locations and sales partners; core industries include logistics, automotive, electronics, food handling and furniture/wood production |
How Schaeffler and Schmalz differ
Germany hosts both headquarters, Herzogenaurach for Schaeffler and Glatten for Schmalz, but the resemblance mostly ends there. Schaeffler is a motion-technology group working in drivetrain systems and integrated actuators, with humanoid robot actuation a stated growth field; it was founded in Herzogenaurach in 1946 as Industrie GmbH and grew from the INA, LuK and FAG companies. Schmalz, founded in 1910 as a razor-blade factory in Glatten, shifted its focus to vacuum technology from 1984 and now specialises in vacuum automation and robotic gripping for robotic picking tasks. Scale is the widest gap in the pair: Schaeffler reports approximately 110,000 employees, company-stated for 2026 after the group was enlarged by the 2024 merger with Vitesco Technologies, against around 1,800 employees at Schmalz across 31 locations, also company-stated. Schaeffler serves automotive, industrial and robotics customers from around 200 locations in more than 50 countries; Schmalz reaches around 70 countries, with core industries including logistics, automotive, electronics, food handling and wood production. Schaeffler AG is listed in Frankfurt and majority-held by the Schaeffler family holding companies, while Schmalz remains family-owned, with no public funding total disclosed. Drivetrain and actuator buyers will read Schaeffler's record; engineers speccing robot gripping will read Schmalz's.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between Schaeffler and Schmalz?
Schaeffler is based in Herzogenaurach, Germany and Schmalz in Glatten, Germany; they also differ on industry focus, founding year, company size, markets served. The table above sets out both companies' entries row by row.
Are Schaeffler and Schmalz in the same country?
Yes. Schaeffler is based in Herzogenaurach, Germany and Schmalz in Glatten, Germany, both in Germany.
Can one sourcing request reach both Schaeffler and Schmalz?
Yes. Schaeffler can be reached through schaeffler.com and Schmalz through schmalz.com, or post one sourcing request and let both answer if they fit.
Does GlobleMatch rank Schaeffler above Schmalz, or Schmalz above Schaeffler?
Neither. There is no pay-to-rank and no paid placement in comparisons; order and content come from verified profile facts only.
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Full profiles, with every fact and its source: Schaeffler and Schmalz. Profile facts last verified: Schaeffler on 6 November 2026, Schmalz on 6 November 2026.