Fichtel & Sachs

ZF Sachs AG was a German manufacturer of automotive components, specializing in powertrains and suspensions. It was previously known as Fichtel & Sachs, Mannesmann Sachs, and Sachs. The company also produced ball bearings, motorcycle engines, bicycle parts, and – through its subsidiary Sachs Motorcycles – motorcycles, mopeds, motorized bicycles, and all-terrain vehicles.

The company was founded on August 1, 1895, in Schweinfurt by inventors Ernst Sachs and Karl Fichtel to produce ball bearings and bicycle hubs. In 1897, the company introduced its freewheel for bicycles, which became widely popular. By 1911, when Fichtel passed away, the company had around 7,000 employees. In 1923, the partnership was converted into a stock corporation, and the ball bearing division was sold to the Swedish company SKF, with the condition that production would remain in Schweinfurt permanently.

From 1929 to 1996, F&S also produced motors, initially for bicycles, later for motorcycles, two-stroke snowmobiles, and small cars. Specifically, the Messerschmitt KR175 and Messerschmitt KR 200 used Sachs engines (1955-1964). In 1929, F&S began producing automotive components, mainly clutches and shock absorbers. Ernst Sachs passed away in 1932, and in 1936, his son Willy Sachs donated the Willy-Sachs-Stadion sports arena to the City of Schweinfurt.

In the 1960s and early 1980s, F&S acquired several traditional bicycle parts companies and brands, such as Hercules, Rabeneick, Huret, Maillard, and Sedis. In the early 1970s, Sachs produced the revolutionary Wankel-engine-powered Hercules motorcycle. In 1987, German company Mannesmann AG acquired the majority of F&S stock, and in 1997, F&S was renamed to Mannesmann Sachs AG. In 2001, Sachs was sold to ZF Friedrichshafen AG and renamed ZF Sachs AG. The bicycle division was sold to the U.S.-based SRAM Corporation, leaving the Sachs division within ZF to focus on the production of automotive components for drivetrains and chassis. As of 2003, ZF Sachs AG had 16,511 employees in 19 countries, with a sales volume of 2.1 billion euros. Since then, the sales volume dropped to 1.8 billion euros in 2011. In 2011, ZF Sachs was incorporated into ZF Friedrichshafen AG.