The automotive industry is in a state of upheaval. The demands on mobility are changing. This is a development that Hirschvogel, as a global automotive supplier, is actively addressing. Jörg Rückauf, who has been CEO of the Group since July 1 and who will assume responsibility for Future Business, says: “The mobility industry is undergoing a transformation. We want to take advantage of the resulting opportunities and help shape the change together with our customers.”
Hirschvogel, a family-owned steel and aluminum processing company headquartered in Denklingen, Upper Bavaria, has been systematically expanding its range of products and services over the years. In the automotive industry, it is moving into innovative products that are independent of the combustion engine. At the same time, the company is opening up to new sectors in the mobility environment and investing in other business areas by acquiring stakes in technology companies. These efforts have resulted in the generation of a partner ecosystem.
This year’s IAA Mobility in Munich will see Hirschvogel exhibiting for the first time together with some of those ecosystem partners. Under the name “Hirschvogel Mobility Network”, they will be presenting components and services for mobility concepts of the future. Among the partners present: Eatron Technologies, a specialist for intelligent software in electric and self-driving mobility concepts; Usaneers, experts for the development of innovative human-machine interfaces for the automotive industry; Automotive Synergies, supplier of electronic systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles; and the Hirschvogel Innovation Center, which coordinates the innovation projects.
Developed for the short haul
The centerpiece of the Hirschvogel Mobility Network’s presence at the IAA will be the new AXIMO (derived from the Latin words for axis and movement), with which it is breaking into the micro-mobility market. AXIMO combines the expertise and services of the individual ecosystem partners to form a component platform for three- or four-wheeled micromobiles. The platform, which encompasses forged and machined components as well as operating displays and software applications, is a modular system. The modules can be used on the customer side to implement different concepts for micro-vehicles in a cost-efficient way. At the IAA Mobility, a delivery robot and a cargo bike will be showcased as application examples.
Tailored to E-mobility
In the automotive supply industry, the Hirschvogel Mobility Network has a growing portfolio of components for E-mobility. These encompass heat sinks for power electronics which, as forged components, demonstrate improved thermal conductivity. Other product highlights include stator housings and ready-for-assembly rotor shafts for electric motors in micromobiles, passenger cars or commercial vehicles, as well as forged and machined electric transmission shafts for passenger cars and trucks. In conjunction with the differentials and components for half shafts that have likewise been added to the portfolio, Hirschvogel can thus cover the entire electric powertrain.
Independent of the powertrain concept
These ready-for-assembly differentials and differential bevel gears expand the range of Hirschvogel components that are independent of the powertrain concept. An augmented reality presentation will make their advantages tangible for the audience at the IAA Mobility. Another focal point will be the chassis. Here, arms and struts, steering knuckles as well as wheel carriers made of forged aluminum will be presented. Compared with cast aluminum, their forged counterparts demonstrate improved mechanical properties and, as lightweight components, help reduce vehicle weight.
“Mobility is becoming more diverse. So is the range of products and services at Hirschvogel. We want to support our customers with suitable components and services when it comes to designing and implementing their mobility concepts. In so doing, we bring our manufacturing know-how–and gladly also our design expertise–to the table,” says Rückauf.
The Hirschvogel Automotive Group
The Hirschvogel Automotive Group is one of the largest manufacturers of forged parts made of steel and aluminum worldwide. As a development partner for modern mobility concepts, with a focus on the automotive industry, and as a production specialist in forging and machining, the core competencies of Hirschvogel include powertrain applications based on all drive technologies, as well as transmissions and chassis in passenger cars and commercial vehicles, and components in off-highway applications. Together with its network of partner companies, Hirschvogel is also active in the fields of electromobility, micro-mobility and software.
Hirschvogel is an independent family company and has approx. 5,700 employees worldwide. Total sales in 2020 amounted to 1.04 billion euros. The headquarters of the Group are located in Denklingen, Upper Bavaria. Likewise located there are Hirschvogel Umformtechnik GmbH and its parent company Hirschvogel Holding GmbH. The Group is also represented in Germany with three other plants based in Schongau and in Marksuhl, near Eisenach. Internationally, the Hirschvogel Automotive Group is present on three continents: in Gliwice (Poland), in Sanaswadi (India), in Pinghu near Shanghai (China), in Columbus/Ohio (USA) and in San Juan del Río/Querétaro (Mexico).
