Willi Elbe
With 70 years of experience, Willi Elbe is a well-known tier 1 supplier for steering and powertrain applications in the automotive industry. With its special knowledge of aluminum and deep understanding of steering and propeller shaft mechanics, Willi Elbe is a market leader in lightweight applications.
Willi Elbe serves a wide range of customers – with applications ranging from passenger cars to commercial vehicles and from off-road vehicles to motorcycles – all united by the principles of uncompromising quality and maximum safety.
In addition, a global network of plants situated close to customer production sites and a high level of customer understanding enable fast responses and customized solutions. A specialized aluminum plant in a Norwegian technology hub also supplies key, market-leading technology.
Willi Elbe serves a wide range of customers – with applications ranging from passenger cars to commercial vehicles and from off-road vehicles to motorcycles – all united by the principles of uncompromising quality and maximum safety.
In addition, a global network of plants situated close to customer production sites and a high level of customer understanding enable fast responses and customized solutions. A specialized aluminum plant in a Norwegian technology hub also supplies key, market-leading technology.
The challenge
Updating to a modern management structure, streamlining an overly complex value chain, creating new products for future growth.
Our approach
Form a strong management team with a common vision to work on lean processes and benchmark technologies.
Our Impact
Achieving a positive EBITDA, consolidation of two plants, first acquisitions in new product fields as the basis for future buy and build activities.
Highlights
Transformation of the production network with the successful relocation of two plants. Winning major new projects through consistently high quality, reduced CO2 footprint and trusting cooperation with premium OEMs in the passenger car and commercial vehicle sectors.
KEY FACTS
- ~EUR 200 m revenue
- ~900 employees
- 6 sites
- Seller: Elbe/Wohak
Sustainable, lightweight steering shafts
Customized aluminum steering shafts with the lowest weight at a reasonable price: By using an aluminum source based on green energy, Willi Elbe produces lightweight products with the highest level of safety, providing our customers with longer battery range and lower CO2 emissions ¬– that is technology leadership by Willi Elbe.
Heavy-duty steel applications
Willi Elbe offers heavy-duty steel applications for steering shafts and steering columns that must withstand higher forces. Here as well, we minimize weight and add special customer features, such as an advanced “adjustment field” for our commercial vehicle steering column applications.
Prop shafts for special applications
Whenever a customer needs something special in high quantity and without sacrificing quality, Willi Elbe delivers just the right solution. Whether it’s a 4-wheel drive or a motorcycle – the company’s shaft design expertise can also be applied to large cardan shaft solutions.
Our Impact
15
EUR million increase in sales from 2019 to 2022
500
EUR million booked business in 2023
14
External PPM average
2
successful relocations of production sites
2024
new headquarter in Tamm
