Schaeffler hits two engine-component milestones: 8 billion finger followers and 160 million HEMI roller tappets
Schaeffler marks 30 years of finger-follower production with the eight-billionth unit and 25 years of HEMI roller-tappet manufacturing with 160 million parts.
- 8 billion
- 160 million
- 30
- 25
What Happened
Schaeffler is celebrating production milestones for two engine components that keep internal combustion engines efficient, even as it develops software-driven, autonomous, and electrified mobility. The plant in Homburg produced its eight-billionth finger follower during its 30th year of production, while the Hirschaid plant has manufactured 160 million roller tappets for the 'HEMI' engine over 25 years. These components are used in conventional internal combustion engines, hybrid powertrains, and range extender applications.
Finger follower production begins at Schaeffler.
Production of HEMI roller tappets starts at Hirschaid.
Ingolstadt plant joins HEMI roller tappet production to meet demand.
- 8 billion produced; 30 years; made in Homburg
- 160 million produced; 25 years; made in Hirschaid
“We are proud to celebrate both a production milestone and a product anniversary for these two precision components, each spanning more than a quarter of a century. My sincere thanks go to all our employees in Hirschaid and Homburg. Their dedication and commitment have made these milestones possible. They are an integral part of these success stories.”
The finger follower, produced since 1996, was developed to reduce friction compared with bucket tappets. It converts the camshaft's rotational movement into precise, low-loss lift of the engine valve, combining precise motion with low-friction contact conditions, which reduces fuel consumption and emissions and increases engine life. It also enables modern functions such as variable valve lift and cylinder deactivation. Schaeffler says its finger follower offers consistently high quality in volume production compared with competing products.
The HEMI roller tappet, produced since 2001 at the Hirschaid plant, is named for hemispherical combustion chambers where valves sit at opposite angles for efficient combustion. It was developed for engines with selective cylinder deactivation to reduce fuel consumption, and its primary function is to maintain precise, clearance-free valve lash. Using engine oil pressure, it compensates for mechanical wear and thermal expansion, continuously holding valve lash at zero millimeters. When a cylinder is deactivated, the switchable tappet hydraulically unlocks within milliseconds, allowing the valve to remain closed through a 'lost-motion stroke'; unlike conventional tappets, it uses a hydraulically actuated mechanical locking mechanism controlled by the engine management system. Especially popular in North America, the component saw increased demand after the V8 engine's resurgence, and Schaeffler will add its Ingolstadt plant to support production from August 2026, alongside Homburg, Lahr, and Brașov.
Why this matters
These precision parts are critical to making internal-combustion and hybrid engines more efficient and cleaner, cutting fuel use and emissions. The HEMI roller tappet, especially popular in North America, helps enable cylinder deactivation. Schaeffler is adding production support at its Ingolstadt plant from August 2026 to meet rising demand, a sign of continued investment in conventional powertrain components during the industry's electrification shift.
Terms in This Story
- HEMI
- Short for 'hemispherical', referring to an engine's combustion chamber shape where valves are angled opposite each other for efficient combustion.
- finger follower
- A component in an engine's valve train that transfers the camshaft's rotation to open and close the engine valve with low friction.
- roller tappet
- A cylindrical component that sits on a camshaft lobe and transmits motion to open a valve; the roller reduces friction.
- valve lash
- The small clearance between the valve and the component that actuates it; must be maintained precisely for proper engine operation.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.